12 NOTES IN MUSIC - TAA DAAAAAM!! Here are the 12 notes used in Western music. Made up of 7 natural notes and 5 sharp notes. We will be applying these to the fretboard in the lessons to come. If we had to translate this to Piano; the 7 natural notes would be the white keys and the 5 sharp notes are the black keys, as shown on the image above, these then keep on repeating along the full keyboard ... easy no? HOW TO TUNE THE GUITAR In the Diagram to the right we have a famous sentence which we will take the first letter of each word to denote the string notes that make up the "Guitar Open Tuning". Starting from the ticker bass strings that would be read as follows: Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie = E - A - D - G - B - E FINGER EXERCISE & WARM UP Here we have a picking exercise which will help co-ordinate both hands together. This exercise is built to improve ones ability to play single notes, as well as works on consistency and clarity of sound, not to mention rhythm. The numbers indicate the fingers on your left hand (given you're a right handed guitarist), the arrows next to the numbers indicate the directions to which we can do this exercise; therefore we can start with the ticker string E; 1, 2, 3, 4 down to the next string; A 1, 2, 3, 4 etc... and then take another exercise starting from the thinner string E; 4, 3, 2, 1 up to the next string B; 4, 3, 2, 1 etc... Ricky

This online portal takes beginner students through the initial stages of learning guitar as well as equipping the student with an initial repertoire along the way. It is designed to tackle the arduous physicality of first starting guitar, whilst applying the fundamentals to music and song. Learning an instrument is a beautiful thing, however for some it might be daunting at first. Remember to enjoy the process, and results will ensue. Without rambling on any further, let’s get started! Ricky

How about a 15.25% discount off your first NEW musical instrument??? Our Government is so kind to musicians who are starting off; they have this initiative for those beginning musicians. When buying from Sun-Sounds Music Shop you are eligible to getting this VAT refund. Get back all the VAT you pay on your first musical instrument. Up to 465€ of VAT could be refunded back to you off an instrument of 3050€. The more you spend towards the 3k figure the more you will get back. The calculation is to be done as follows .. The amount the instrument is priced at divided by 1.18. The result you get there is what you would be paying at the end. Example: 1000€ / 1.18 = 847.46€ 1000€ - 847.46€ = 152.54€ 152.54€ = the amount you be refunded Here's the process you would need to follow if you wish to apply for it online : 1. You must have an E-Id set up 2. This link gets you to the servizz.gov page -  LINK 3. Read through and click apply. 4. On the new window that appears; type in your E-ID and password and follow the verification process. 5. Enter all details including your bank details and click submit. 6. You will receive an sms and e-mail from servizz.gov confirming that a case has been opened 7. The submission will be reviewed and within a few days you will receive an sms/e-mail notification confirming the case closed and rebate should be received. Let's get playing some music! InJoy.

Well, Christmas is round the corner, but hey, every day can be a good reason for a gift to your loved or appreciated one. Getting a gift or present for someone dear to you may sometimes be hard. Too much thoughts can tire you out of your so required energy. A gift in means of sounds that create music and rhythm will always do the trick for the others' heart; keeping that perfect shuffled accented beats - Dum dum, Dum dum! This year we thought of helping you further with all the gift ideas you could possibly imagine when dropping by at our Sun-Sounds, Music Shop in Sliema, Malta. We have created a specialised section, just for this reason. Lets put it this way, here’s a list of all of the items for you to get ideas bubbling. There’s something for every price range, every age or relationship. Put your mind to rest and get scrolling :) Press here to open our new GIFT IDEAS PAGE Be it a Secret Santa, a fun gift for your boss or someone who you have really appreciated his or her help during the year. A heart warming gift to your loved one or to that person you so admire. A simple Christmas gift to your Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Brother, Sister, Mother, Father, Nanna, Nannu, Aunty or Uncle, Cousins, 2nd Cousins or BFF - these are those uncommon presents that will have anyone totally surprised. Be it an Anniversary, Birthday or Christmas present to whoever or whatever relationship you have with them, they will surely be surprised with the GIFT OF MUSIC. #GiftsinMalta #MaltaGiftStore #PresentsforChristmas #PresentsforBirthdays #GiftIdeas #PresentsMalta #Musicrelatedgifts #giftshopSliema #Presentsideas #Whattobuyforchristmas

Playing an instrument like the guitar can be the most fun thing in the world. But, sometimes your guitar needs servicing. That’s why we offer on the spot guitar re-stringing, cleaning & basic servicing while you wait. What is included in the guitar’s on the spot servicing: String replacement Fretboard cleaning and oiling Fret polishing Adjustment of the truss rod of the neck guitar if required Guitar polishing Pricing: A simple on the spot service will cost €10 to €15. Prices for other related services that would require more attention; we may offer you price estimates and further guidelines once you drop your guitar here at our Music Shop in Sliema, Malta. Our Experience: We have maintained a good number of guitars through our time of existence. Around 550 of them to be precise. We have acquired enough experience with different brands to help you out on yours. Brands we have worked on: Fender, Höfner, Gibson, Martin & Co, Ibanez, Stagg, Sigma Guitars, Gretsch, Yamaha, PRS, Epiphone, Harmony, Washburn, Ovation, Taylor, Seagull, Guild, G & L, ESP, Rickenbacker, Jackson and Schecter and more. #musicshopinmalta #GuitarStrings #GuitarService #Trussrodadjustment #musicshopmalta

We are happy to share the exciting news with you - from now on you can find Spanish made, real classical and flamenco Manuel Rodriguez guitars here at Sun-Sounds. We can describe this brand and its guitars in four simple words: Tradition, Modernity, Art and Experience. The history of Rodríguez guitars is as rich as the wood from which they are crafted. Manuel Rodríguez — grandson of flamenco guitarist Manuel Rodriguez Perez Marequi and son of classical luthier Manuel Rodríguez Perez — learned the art of constructing a guitar firsthand. His apprenticeship began at the age of 13 in Madrid, where he also began exporting his finely crafted instruments to France, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. Fast forward to 1959, Manuel Sr. opened a shop Los Angeles, making classical guitars for a myriad of professional players, teachers, students, and even the Hollywood elite. In 1994 MR left their small shop-workshop in the center of Madrid to install themselves in new and ambitious facilities, in the town of Esquivias, Toledo. More than two decades later, their factory is the example of the perfect symbiosis between tradition and modernity. MR believe that the best way to find out which guitar is the ideal for each one is to discover it, to touch it, to feel it. Therefore, they also offer guided tours of their factory, observing the entire construction process. ,,If that which cannot be repeated is art, then our guitars are also an artistic instrument. It is even more so when each artist constructs his guitar by creating exclusive ornamentation, using precious and unique woods, creating a mosaic, which distinguishes this soundhole from all the other soundholes. It is like a feather; a purfling that will never be repeated as far as color, thickness and taste are concern. We are therefore talking about an art piece that has a life of its own, produces elegant sound, and provides the guitarist with their own one-of-a-kind instrument to express their musical skill and harmonic knowledge. It is held in the hands and close to the body; it is an art piece of precious natural materials built to the luthier’s taste and woodworking skills; it is your trade, personality, and dignity in doing a good job.” — Manuel Rodríguez Jr. We invite you to visit our little music shop in Sliema, Malta and try them out yourself! ¡Hasta luego! #musician #manuelrodriguez #classicalguitars #guitars #flamencoguitars #flamencoguitars #MusicShopinSliemaMalta #manuelrodriguez #manuelrodriguezguitars #spanishguitarsinmalta #spanishguitars

Some players don’t want attention - playing in the intimacy of their own bedroom is just enough. And that’s all fine, but some of us like sharing the music and expressing our talents in public. If you consider yourself to belong to the latter category, you might find this article useful. Malta is famous for the abundance of great musicians and for its tourism. For this exact reason, many local pub owners host open mic nights and jam sessions. Here’s a short list of places where you could express your talents on a regular basis: Casey’s Bar in Gzira hosts open mic nights twice a week – every Tuesday and Saturday from 8pm. You don’t need to be a musician to join that – Casey’s state that you can express any talent on their stage. However, if you do prefer to make a statement about your musical skills, the bar will provide the backline PA, 2 microphones, a monitor and an electro-acoustic guitar for your convenience. If you play something else, just contact them and you’ll sure find a solution! https://www.facebook.com/caseysbarmalta/ The Funky Monkey, located in the Manoel island (Gzira) is the place to go if you long for a productive and creative jam session. They host their sessions every Monday from 8pm onwards, so put it on your calendar! Just grab your instrument and have fun at The Funky Monkey! https://www.facebook.com/funky.monkey.malta/ Ta Fra Ben Reggae bar in Bugibba organizes weekly jamming sessions every Thursday from 8.30pm. As the name of the bar indicates, reggae fans are more than welcome here. But don’t be fooled by the name only, you can hear and play many different styles of music in Ta Fra Ben. Every Thursday you have the opportunity to jam with talented local musicians. https://www.facebook.com/tafraben.reggaebar/ Last but not least, is the Paradise Exiles bar in Sliema. Their open mic nights are organized three times per week – on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9pm! Just choose a time that suits you, dress to impress and head to Paradise Exiles! https://www.facebook.com/paradisexiles/ I hope that the article gave you many options to choose from and many places to consider. You can check out all of the bars in Facebook for more information. And most importantly, have fun with music! #musician #jamming #openmic

Need a little inspiration? Do you share a passion for music and movies? Combine those and watch these 5 masterpieces (in my humble opinion, anyway): 5. A Hard Day's Night is a 1964 British musical comedy film directed by Richard Lester and starring the Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr —during the height of Beatlemania. The film portrays several days in the lives of the group. A Hard Day’s Night film is credited as being one of the most influential of all musical films. This is a must-see for all the loyal fans of The Beatles! 4. The Decline of Western Civilization is a 1981 American documentary filmed through 1979 and 1980. The movie is about the Los Angeles punk rock scene. The film is the opening act of a trilogy, depicting music scenes in Los Angeles during the late 20th century. The second film, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988), covers the Los Angeles heavy metal scene of 1986-1988. The third film, The Decline of Western Civilization III (1998), chronicles the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers in the late 1990s. 3. Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold. The film follows Cash's early life, his romance with June Carter, and his ascent to the country music scene. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as Carter. There's tons of country music from Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, but also plenty of the roots rock and blues that influenced Cash as well. 2. Woodstock is a 1970 American documentary of the watershed counterculture Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969 at Bethel in New York. Entertainment Weekly called this film the benchmark of concert movies and one of the most entertaining documentaries ever made. The film was directed by Michael Wadleigh. Woodstock was a great commercial and critical success. It received the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It documents performances by such bands and artists as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Richie Havens, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and many more. 1. Pink Floyd – The Wall is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical drama film directed by Alan Parker with animated segments by political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, and is based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album of the same name. The film centers around a confined rocker named Pink, who, after being driven into insanity by the death of his father and many depressive moments during his lifetime, constructs a metaphorical (and sometimes physical) wall to be protected from the world and emotional situations around him. When this coping mechanism backfires he puts himself on trial and sets himself free. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters. That's a great little list for a lazy yet educational weekend! Enjoy! #movies #thebeatles #thewall #pinkfloyd #woodstock #johnnycash

As the heat wave is sweeping across Europe, musicians are faced with more challenges. Your instruments don’t like this weather just as much as you don’t. So how should you protect them? Obviously, it all depends on the type of the instrument. In this article I will focus merely on guitars, but the advice should be relevant for all other wooden instruments. To keep the guitar playing and sounding as the builder intended, you must maintain an environment within a specific climate range. Generally speaking, if a human is comfortable, a guitar is comfortable. To put it simple: guitars that get too dry crack; guitars that absorb too much moisture well and buckle. Those are the physics of wood in general. But for a guitar, heat is worse than cold, so keep the guitar out of the sun and avoid leaving a guitar in a hot car trunk all day. Keep the guitar in an environment near standard room temperature (20-25°C) and the relative humidity at about 50 percent, and you’re never going to hear your guitar complain. If either humidity or temperature get far away from these factory conditions, your guitar is in danger. A rapid change in temperature or exposure to cold can cause small cracks in the finish. These are called lacquer checks. A gradual increase in humidity won't generally do permanent damage to your instrument. But when very high humidity is combined with high temperature, glue joints could weaken and may even open slightly. If your guitar is exposed to high temperature or humidity for any length of time, the glue under the bridge could weaken causing the bridge to pull off. Don't set your instrument next to a source of heat or hang it on a wall where it will dry out. At all costs, avoid hanging your guitar on an outside wall during winter months. The wall will be cooler than the inside air. The result is a conflict between the temperature of the top and back, with potential damage as a result. Should the guitar be exposed to freezing temperatures, let it warm to room temperature while still in its case. This lets it come up to room temperature more slowly, decreasing the possibility of wood and finish cracks. Do not store it somewhere that is not climate controlled like a basement, crawlspace, attic or somewhere like that. This shouldn’t be a concern if you are playing consistently, but even if you just take a long holiday that is enough time to cause some problems. If the weather is too strong to battle only with some common sense, there is external help you could use: Guitar humidifier: This item is simply a rubber-enclosed sponge that you saturate with water, squeeze the excess out of, and then clip onto the inside of the sound hole or keep inside the case to raise the humidity level. Desiccant: A desiccant is a powder or crystal substance that usually comes in small packets and draws humidity out of the air, lowering the local relative humidity level. Silicagel is a common brand, and packets often come in the cases of new guitars. Hygrometer: You can buy this inexpensive device at any hardware store; it tells you the relative humidity of a room with a good degree of accuracy (close enough to maintain a healthy guitar anyway). Get the portable kind (as opposed to the wall-hanging variety) so that you can keep it with your guitar. Good luck in this battle against the Maltese heat! Don’t forget to protect not only yourselves but your instruments as well! #climate #GuitarsMalta #heatwave

Some guitars may sound great, some may look great. But this article is about those certain ones that incorporated both of the qualities and rose to become something more than just instruments. The following 10 guitars are a part of rock history and each have stories of their own. 10. Gene Simmons’ Axe Bass Nobody could doubt that Kiss had a very powerful band image. One of the most memorable bass guitars is Simmons’ Axe bass. It was originally conceived to make his demonic stage presence more iconic and it went on to be a fine example of instrument shaped like an ordinary object. 9. James Hetfield’s 'EET FUK' ESP Explorer James Hetfield has used several different Explorer guitars with Metallica, but one stands out. His 'EET FUK' white model from ESP, which was used extensively while touring behind And Justice For All. After having its headstock broken several times, the Explorer was retired, though James picked it up again to record the track Suicide & Redemption on their album Death Magnetic. White Explorers went on to become an easily identifiable element of Metallica’s live image. 8. Kurt Cobain’s ‘Jag-Stang’ According to the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, he designed his own guitar by taking Polaroids of a Fender Jaguar and a Fender Mustang and cutting them to fit together. Fender began producing the guitar after Cobain's death, and Courtney Love gave her husband's powder blue prototype to R.E.M.'s Peter Buck. 7. Paul McCartney’s Höfner Bass Paul McCartney’s violin-shaped bass is probably more remembered than any other instrument played by The Beatles. McCartney was reportedly pleased by how symmetrical the Höfner bass looked, allowing it to look like a regular left-handed instrument. He continues to bring it out onstage while touring, preventing pretty much any other bass player in the world from using the same model without looking like a hack. 6. Prince’s 'Cloud' Prince was always known for his unique style. The master of funk and soul created a custom guitar, dubbed the 'Cloud,' to suit his unique style — it was marked by an extended curved edge. The original model of the guitar was crafted by Andy Beech, a local Minneapolis luthier, and later reproduced by the iconic guitar brand Schechter. Prince played the ax throughout the ’80s and ’90s, including in his famed Purple Rain movie. 5. Brian May’s 'Red Special' The instrument responsible for most of Queen’s guitar riffs comes with a nice backstory to it. Brian May designed and built the Red Special with his father, in 1963, mostly using wood from an old fireplace mantel. It comes with a few peculiarities: though it looks solid, its pieces are kept together in a such a way that it’s semi-acoustic, and the hardware is wired in odd ways, having on/off switches for each of the three pickups. Brian still uses the guitar to this day, after a few restorations, though he commonly plays replicas as well. 4. Eddie Van Halen’s 'Frankenstrat' The Frankenstrat came about as Eddie Van Halen’s attempt at combining the sound of a Gibson with the body of a Fender Stratocaster. After getting the body of the instrument at a discount price because it had a knot in the wood, Van Halen went on to build the guitar by himself, and eventually giving it the custom finish that became well-known and seen releases of official replicas over the years. 3. Angus Young’s Jaydee SG Though the AC/DC guitarist had previously used the Gibson SG Standard – and contributed immensely to its popularity – his unique version of the instrument came thanks to Jaydee, adding lightning bolt inlays to the neck of the red guitar, something that carried over to later custom-built versions of the instrument. Regardless of which version of the SG Angus Young is playing, it’s become nearly impossible to picture him without that red guitar – and, in some ways, the guitar without him. 2. Jimmy Page’s double-neck Gibson EDS-1275 The unforgettable guitar that made the multi-part "Stairway to Heaven" a certifiable epic, the Led Zeppelin guitarist's double neck Gibson – 12 strings on top, six on the bottom – has spawned plenty of imitators. 1. Jimi Hendrix’s Monterey Fender Stratocaster This guitar holds a spot in the list for a unique reason: the fact that it’s probably best-known for how it ended up, rather than its actual appearance. At the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience were closing their set with an extended version of Wild Thing, when Hendrix knelt next to his Fender Stratocaster and set it on fire, giving place to one of the most beautiful, memorable moments in recorded rock history. #iconicguitars #rockhistory #MusicShopinSliemaMalta

Let’s look at guitars from a different perspective. If you’re interested in languages or history, or both – this article is for you. The word guitar entered the English language at the start of the 17th century and it came from the French word guitare. At that time the common understanding of this instrument was very different from what we would think now. Guitar was basically just a lute-like instrument. But do not be fooled by the 17th century, because the concept of guitar is much much older than that. Actually, the modern word guitar, and its antecedents, has been applied to a wide variety of chordophones since classical times and as such causes confusion. The English word guitar, the German Gitarre, and the French guitare were all adopted from the Spanish guitarra, which comes from the Andalusian Arabic قيثارة (qīthārah) and the Latin cithara, which in turn came from the Ancient Greek κιθάρα (kithara). Many influences are cited as antecedents to the modern guitar. Although the development of the earliest guitars is lost in the history of medieval Spain, two instruments are commonly cited as their most influential predecessors, the European lute and its cousin, the four-string oud; the latter was brought to Iberia by the Moors in the 8th century. Isn‘t it wonderful how the instrument that so many people play today, the instrument that is widely considered to be one of the most iconic ones, has roots that trace back to early Medieval times! And this last section is for enthusiasts of linguistics. This is how you can say guitar in different languages: Latin – cithara Spanish – guitarra French – guitare Italian – chitarra Finnish – kitara Swedish – gitarr Norwegian – gitar Russian – гитара (gitara) Portuguese – violão German – Gitarre Polish – gitara Hungarian – gitár Turkish – gitar Maltese – kitarra Greek – κιθάρα (kithára) Czech – kytara #MusicShopinSliemaMalta #GuitarsofMalta #HistoricalGuitars #Languages

This is a plea for musicians to consider buying used gear. Are you looking for something special? Something with a little mojo? Sure, it’s tempting to buy brand new and shiny things, but in reality that may not be the best option. New models are advertised to be always better than the older ones, but are they? Guitars, basses and amps haven’t changed much in over half a century. Drums, brass and wind instruments have changed even less. Novelty does bring out attraction, but the adjective “new” written on the label of a chosen instrument does not necessarily add value. Although, skepticism, to some degree, is important. Choosing a used instrument that will serve you well is difficult and you need to find some expert opinions to guide you through this process. Here at Sun-Sounds we will consult you in the most honest and reasonable way possible. One of our main goals is to make people understand the value of used gear. We believe that there’s too much prejudice and uninformed opinions on this topic. So basically, buying a pre-loved instrument has two sides to it. On the one hand, it’s cheaper than buying something new. On the other, it’s a great future investment if you’re a business savvy person. Most of the used gear can be purchased for a more affordable price. The general rule is that the more used, the cheaper. For example, one of the treasures we offer at Sun-Sounds is Spector Legend 4 Classic Bass. Normally, you would pay 700 euros for a new one, but we’re selling it for 350 and it’s in perfect condition! Another thing to take into consideration is that we live in the age of online shopping, and sometimes people buy something without putting much thought into it. What happens then is they come home, decide that the instrument is not for them and sell it. So in this case, it’s not really even secondhand shopping, because the instrument was barely used. Why not use this opportunity? It might be surprising, but guitars are a better investment than stocks and bonds. Vintage, rare, good brand guitars hold their resale value. A perfect example of this would be a historic guitar – Gibson Les Paul 1959. It first became popular because of The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards who played it. It was also a beloved guitar of Jimmy Page. Over the past decade, this model became one of the most expensive guitars ever sold. 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standards have sold from $50,000 for hard-worn examples to over $1-million for Peter Green’s and Gary Moore's legendary Holy Grail — the guitar Green used on Fleetwood Mac’s early albums. Still think used instruments are for poor and immature players? And of course, there’s an emotional aspect of it. Instruments, just like people, each have their lives and their stories. They may have seen a few battles in their day before they found their way to you. Yes, it will probably have a few dinks and dents here and there, but that will not affect the quality of sound, that even adds more uniqueness in its character and in its visual aesthetics. You can get a great deal if you choose wisely, and you may end up with a quality instrument you would not have been able to otherwise afford. Helping out a fellow musician is also part of it. Buying gear directly from another musician is one of the most supportive acts you can do. Circulating used gear among musicians keeps money in the pockets of people making music. That sort of human connection isn’t usually possible when buying from a warehouse. That’s what Sun-Sounds believes in. That’s what we do here at Sun-Sounds. We buy or trade our instruments with the musicians wanting to upgrade or change their instrument. All in all, there are many advantages of buying a used instrument or gear: It’s affordable It’s an investment It has a sentimental value It strengthens the music community If you need more proof, visit Sun-Sound here in Malta and join the discussion! We will gladly answer all your questions and help you choose the best option for you! Sun-Sounds music shop, Malta, Sliema (Europe) #UsedinstrumentsEurope #GuitarsMalta #SecondHandInstruments #MojoGuitars #HistoricalGuitars #JimmyPage #Investments #MusicShopinSliemaMalta #GibsonLesPaul #GuitarsofMalta