Michael Papenburg
Professional Guitarist
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Co-authored Articles (11)
How to
Read Guitar Tabs
Guitarists have their own special system of music notation called ''guitar tablature'', or "guitar tabs" for short. Using guitar tabs, a guitarist can play a wide variety of music without ever having to learn how to read...
3 Easy Methods for Tuning Your Guitar by Ear
A guitar tuning guide for when you don't have a tuner Whether you’re getting ready to practice, jam with friends, or play a sold-out venue, your guitar needs to be in tune—but what if your tuner is lost or broken? It...
How to
Set Up a Guitar
Sometimes a new guitar needs to be set up to achieve a smooth sound. If you notice that your strings are difficult to hold down or buzz while you play, you’ll need to change the action and intonation of the guitar. To...
How to Change the Nut on Your Guitar
Learn to replace and shape the nut on your electric or acoustic guitar Whether you’re a new or seasoned guitar player, you’ll need to maintain your instrument to keep it sounding great. This includes replacing your g...
How to
Write Guitar Tablature
Guitar tabs are a relatively simple way to learn new songs on guitar without knowing how to read music. You don't have to know how to read music to write guitar tablature, either – all you need to know is how to play t...
How to
Play Barre Chords on a Guitar
Learning how to play the barre chord is a large hurdle for beginners. Barre chords are versatile chords for guitarists of all genres. Almost every type of chord can be played in the barre chord form. Conquering the barre...
How to
Set Up Guitar Pedals
Guitar pedals, sometimes called effects pedals, provide an easy and effective way to modulate your electric guitar's tone. The order of your pedals well ensure the best tone, but what tone that is depends on your persona...
How to
Solo over Chord Progressions
If you've already mastered how to play guitar chords, you may be ready to learn how to play a solo that complements those chords. In other words, you may be ready for playing a solo over a chord progression. But what not...
How to
Master Lead Guitar Basics
Mastering the lead guitar is an art that, like anything else, takes time and practice. There are an almost infinite number of lead styles, tricks, scales, and techniques, but the following methods are meant to kick-start...
How to
Play a 3 String Cigar Box Guitar
The Cigar Box guitar is an easy to play instrument and an excellent one to begin exploring playing with a slide. A little understanding of the music will help you to master this amazing little instrument. They are genera...
How to
Use a Guitar Slide
Guitar slides are great tools to change the way your guitar sounds. These are used to produce smooth bluesy sounds and have been used by legendary artists such as the Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones, and Muddy Waters...
