Author: Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter

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Best Ukulele for Beginners

Ferangeli Entry-level Ukuleles, Ukulele for Beginners

At Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter, we understand the importance of finding the perfect ukulele for beginners. It can be a daunting task with so many options, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to choose the best ukulele for you.

What to Look for in a Beginner Ukulele

Size: When looking for a ukulele, there are a few key factors to consider. The first is the size of the ukulele. Ukuleles come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Soprano ukuleles are the smallest and are great for beginners because they are easy to play and have a bright, cheerful sound.

Material: Another factor to consider is the material of the ukulele. Ukuleles can be made from various materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. Wood is the most popular choice and can give the ukulele a warm, rich tone. Plastic and metal ukuleles are more durable and affordable, but they can have a more muted sound.

Price: Finally, you’ll want to consider the price of the ukulele. As a beginner, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a ukulele, but it’s worth investing in a good-quality instrument that will last you for years to come.

Our Top Ukulele Picks for Beginners

Anj-Series Mango Concert Ukulele

Our Anj-Series Mango Concert Ukulele is a great choice for beginners because it’s the most affordable solid wood ukulele, easy to play, and has a beautiful sound. It’s made from Philippine Mango wood, which gives it a warm, mellow tone, and it has geared tuners that make it easy to keep in tune. Plus, it comes with a soft case, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

Listen to the sound sample in this video:

Entry-Level Mango Tenor Ukulele

The Entry-Level Tenor Ukulele is a step up in size from the Anj-Series Concert Ukulele, but it’s still a great choice for beginners. They’re also made with Philippine woods like Mango, Acacia, Gmelina, Jackfruit, and Mahogany, with a rich, warm tone that sounds great in any setting. It also comes with Aquila Nylgut strings, which are some of the best strings you can get for a ukulele.

How to Choose the Right Ukulele for You

Choosing the right ukulele is a personal decision that depends on your preferences and needs. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice:

  • Try out different sizes: If possible, try out different sizes of ukuleles to see which one feels most comfortable to you.
  • Listen to the sound: The sound of a ukulele is subjective, so listen to as many as you can to find one you like. Check the different sound samples from our YouTube channel here: // insert playlist to all ukuleles
  • Consider your budget: Ukuleles can range from very affordable to very expensive, so consider how much you’re willing to spend before making a decision.

Conclusion

Finding the perfect ukulele for beginners can be a fun and rewarding experience. By considering the size, material, and price of the ukulele, and trying out different options, you’ll be well on your way to finding the right ukulele.

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Should You Learn Tab Or Notation? A Guide For Beginner Guitarists

So you’ve decided to learn the guitar – great!

You’ll realise fairly quickly though, just as all beginner guitarists do, that you’re faced with a few pretty important decisions:

  • Should I learn acoustic or electric guitar?
  • Should I buy a nylon or steel string acoustic?
  • What’s best, in person or online guitar lessons?

Probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll be faced with is whether to learn guitar tab, or standard music notation.

Probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll be faced with is whether to learn guitar tab, or standard music notation.

The Difference Between Guitar Tab And Standard Notation

As is probably obvious by the name, standard notation is the conventional way of reading and writing music. It’s non-instrument specific, meaning notation is used for a variety of instruments; piano, vocals, bass guitar and more…

Guitar tab, short for tablature, is specifically designed for guitarists (and bassists), and offers a more ‘user-friendly’, if less comprehensive representation of a piece of music.

Standard Music NotationGuitar Tab
Staff (lines) show the notes of the musicLines represent the string of the guitar
5 lines – notes are positioned on or between lines, as well as above or below6 lines – notes are displayed on the lines
Pitch is represented by the position of each note on the staff. Notes move up in pitch as they move higher up on the staffPitch is represented by number on a string, which denotes which fret to play on the guitar
Note duration is shown by the shape of the symbolNote duration isn’t shown in guitar tab
Show what the music sounds likeShow how to play the music on a specific instrument

Pros And Cons Of Each Approach

As you’re no doubt starting to realise, both guitar tab and standard musical notation have their pros and cons. Ultimately, your decision as to which approach to learn depends on what you’re wanting to get out of learning the guitar. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each form.

Standard Notation

Pros

The biggest advantage of learning music notation is that it’s a universal language among musicians. That means a vocalist, a guitar and a violinist can all pick up the same piece of music and understand it similarly.

Compared with tab, it offers a more meaningful and complete representation. In some cases, guitar-specific information such as fingering or fretboard positioning can be added. As you improve, you can eventually get to a point where you can even read a piece of music and play it in real time, even if you’ve never heard it before.

Cons

The main drawback of learning standard notation for guitar is it has a pretty steep learning curve. It’s basically a whole new language, and for most beginners it takes a long time to comprehend. That said, learning a musical instrument in general is a pretty big endeavour and takes a lot of time, practice, and dedication.

Notation is also a lot harder to write and produce, so you’re more likely to find an abundance of free tabs online, and not a lot of free pieces of music written in standard notation. For guitarists, standard notation can also struggle to display certain instrument-specific techniques, such as note bending.

Guitar Tab

Pros

Compared to standard notation, tab is super easy to learn. It’s fairly self explanatory, since the lines are a visual representation of the guitar strings, and the piece shows you exactly which frets and which strings to play.

Instrument-specific performance information such as bends and strumming patterns are easy to write into tab, and alternate guitar tunings don’t make a difference to how a piece is written. Tab is a lot easier to write and publish too, you can create tab in a word processor like Google Docs, meaning there is plenty of free music to download from the internet.

Most guitarists know how to read tab too, so if you’re planning on jamming with others in the future, learning tab is a smart idea.

Cons

Tab’s main disadvantage is the lack of timing information. Though some tab does have timing info, it complexifies a piece and kind of takes away from the idea of tab being fairly easy to grasp. Tab therefore is better if you already know how a piece of music is supposed to sound.

Because guitar tab is so easy to produce, it means there is inevitably a lot of poor quality tab music online. Also, if you plan on performing with other musicians in the future who aren’t guitarists, you may find it difficult to communicate in a written form if you’ve learned tab and not notation.

Which Is Best – Guitar Tab Or Standard Notation?

Ultimately, it depends on why you decided to learn guitar in the first place. If you simply want to learn how to play a few chords and a couple of your favorite songs, then guitar tab is your best bet. If in the future you hope to play with other musicians such as pianists and singers, being able to read musical notation is a good tool to have in your belt.

You may also find your guitar teacher has a preference for one or the other. If you’re planning on taking online guitar lessons, you should check out whether they are taught using tab or notation.

If you’re really serious about becoming a guitarist, then you should consider learning both. Many guitarists start by learning tab to get off the ground, and then pick up notation at a later point.

Written by Ellie Mckinsey

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Experience the Best of Cebuano Music at Parkmall Strings Guitar Exhibit

Are you a music enthusiast looking for an exciting event to attend this October? Look no further than the Parkmall Strings Guitar Exhibit! From October 6-12, 2014, head to the 2nd floor lobby of Parkmall and immerse yourself in the rich musical culture of Cebu.

Live Performances by Talented Cebuano Musicians

At the Parkmall Strings Guitar Exhibit, you’ll have the opportunity to witness some of the most talented musicians in Cebu perform live. From acoustic guitarists to ukulele performers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

One of the highlights of the event is the Lapu-lapu City Center for Ukulele Performers, led by the renowned Sir Clive Cane. Don’t miss this chance to see the group’s captivating performance and witness their incredible musical prowess.

Exhibit Photos: A Glimpse into the Musical World of Cebu

We understand that seeing is believing, which is why we’ve provided a sneak peek of the exhibit through our stunning exhibit photos. Take a look at the captivating displays and immerse yourself in the world of Cebuano music.

Stay Tuned for More Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter Exhibit Locations

Looking for even more opportunities to experience Ferangeli Guitars and Ukuleles? Look no further than our Exhibits page at https://www.ferangeliguitar.com/exhibits/.

Find updates on exhibits and get sneak peeks of what’s to come. Keep an eye out for new exhibit locations and upcoming events featuring the finest quality guitars from Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter.

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An online page about Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter

Ferangeli Guitar

Originally located in old Lincoln St., in the heart of downtown Cebu City, Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter, has been handcrafting quality acoustic guitar instruments since 1919. Now managed and operated by Master Luthier Fernando Dagoc, the custom guitar factory is now located in Barangay Pajac, Lapu-lapu City in the Island of Mactan – the capital of guitar making craft in the country.

Far from the crude tools of yore, Ferangeli now handcrafts its exquisite line of acoustic steel and classical guitars with state-of-the-art equipment and backed up by a pool of experienced highly skilled craftsmen and luthiers. These fine instruments are made under the strict supervision of Fernando Dagoc who is descended from a family line of excellent luthiers. Over the years and with his experience in various production processes, Mr. Dagoc continues to learn new innovations in guitar technology and invests in the latest equipment that is at par with international luthier standards.

Such qualities set him apart from the other luthiers in the community, and as a testimony to his superb craftsmanship, he has customized orders from different parts of the globe. Some of his classical guitar pieces are exported to established Guitar shops in Spain and the U.S.

 

Source: http://ferangeli.9f.com/

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A glimpse of Mactan and Ferangeli Guitar Handcrafter

Ferangeli Guitar

As you fly into Cebu and walk out of the air-conditioned plane, you immediately feel the hot humid climate of Mactan. Lunch time can only be at Sutukil — a native restaurant where specialty is fresh sea food. You choose the moist fish, lobster, prawns or whatever and they serve it to you cooked suiting your craving taste buds. Nothing fancy, just healthy sumptuous food on a bamboo table overlooking the sparkling sea and its mid-day sun. For a group of 4 you’ll only be spending less than 2,000 pesos.

If however, for only one reason should you come to Cebu or Mactan in particular, don’t miss Ferangeli Guitar. A haven for quality, original stringed instruments. The Shop stands at Abuno, Lapu-Lapu city, the heart of guitar making in Cebu (A taxi ride from the airport is a mere thirty minute ride costing only around 100 pesos). You’ll be greeted by the owner Andoy and his lovely wife Aying. A very, very talented couple who has developed the stringed instrument into a work of art. Here you’ll find the exacting concert guitar to the extreme “T-back” guitar; ovation guitars designed in every form possible from the usual wooden “hunchback” to the intricate glued shells from the deepest parts of the Philippine sea.

 

Adolfo

Internationally renowned flamenco guitarist and luthier. The only Filipino awarded the title “Builder of Stringed Instruments” from Spain, Year 2000

Source: http://ferangeli.50webs.com/

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Humidity and your Acoustic Guitar

As an acoustic guitar player, you are probably aware that wood is a vital component of your instrument. The wood is a living material, and it reacts to changes in temperature and humidity. The wood’s physical characteristics determine the sound quality and playability of your guitar. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how humidity affects your acoustic guitar and how to maintain an optimum humidity level to keep your guitar in perfect condition.

How Does Relative Humidity Affect Guitars?

Wood tends to equalize with its surrounding air, in temperature and humidity. If wood becomes too moist, it will swell, while if it loses its moisture, it will shrink. These are physical characteristics of wood. Since wood is a primary component of acoustic guitars, changes in humidity levels can affect the guitar’s sound quality, playability, and overall condition.

What Is the Desired Level of Humidity?

To prevent any potential damage, you must maintain the optimum relative humidity for your acoustic guitar. Typically, experts recommend maintaining a humidity level ranging from 45% to 55%. This level minimizes the risk of damage to your instrument.

What If My Guitar Has Been Subjected to Excessive Humidity?

Excessive exposure of your guitar to humidity can result in various issues. Firstly, the guitar’s seams may separate, causing it to come apart. Additionally, the bridges may loosen, impacting the tuning and sound quality of the guitar. Lastly, excess moisture may cause the action to become unplayable. In such cases, it is advisable to use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity level to the optimum level and prevent any further damage.

What If My Guitar Has Been Stored in a Dry Environment?

On the other hand, low humidity levels can be equally damaging to your guitar. When the wood dries, it shrinks, causing the top to lower, and the strings to come with it. This creates stress on the wood, leading to cracking. To solve this problem, you should invest in a humidifier and a hygrometer to measure the humidity level.

How Does Different Humidity Levels Affect Your Guitar?

Humidity levels below or above the optimum range can cause damage to your guitar. Here’s what happens to your guitar at different humidity levels:

At 60% Humidity – Your guitar may show signs of tarnished frets and strings, corrosion to nickel, chrome, or gold plating on tuning machines, swelling of the top, high action, and loose braces and bridges.

At 50% Humidity – Your guitar is in good condition.

At 40% Humidity – You may see sharp fret ends. This is the area of the fingerboard that extends over the body that may begin to crack slightly from the 12th or 14th fret toward the soundhole.

At 35% Humidity – Firstly, the top will begin to shrink, causing the soundboard to look and feel rippled or dried in. Additionally, the sharp fret ends, which are already visible at 40% relative humidity, will become even more evident.

At 30% Humidity – Cracks may start to appear on your guitar. Even if you do not see a crack, the guitar has lost moisture, and the top has begun to sink. To make your guitar playable, you may need a higher saddle.

At 25% Humidity – More cracks are visible, and fret filing may be needed.

Conclusion

The humidity level is a critical factor in maintaining the sound quality, playability, and overall condition of your acoustic guitar. To achieve this, a humidity level of 45%-55% relative humidity is optimum, as maintaining this level will minimize the risk of damage to your guitar. If, however, your guitar has been exposed to excessive humidity or stored in a dry environment, it is crucial to invest in a humidifier to regulate the moisture content.

Source: http://www.maurysmusic.com/humidity___acoustic_guitars