Tag Archives: Learning

Invest in Yourself – Set Clear Goals to Learn Spanish Quickly

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One of the best investments you can make in yourself is to learn Spanish. You may have several reasons why you might be interested in learning Spanish. Perhaps you want to apply for a job that requires bilingual skills, or you may want to take an extended vacation to a Spanish speaking country, or you may want to be able to communicate with neighbors or new family members. Whatever your reason, learning Spanish is a great investment in yourself, and accomplishing this skill is not as hard as it might seem.

There are really numerous ways to learn Spanish. You could do it the old-school way and attend a class in your community. Or, you could use the Internet to find literally hundreds of online Spanish learning programs. You could purchase DVD-ROMs or CDs. The paths to learning Spanish are available to you, but you will need to think about which path best suits your learning style, your budget, your timeline for Spanish language proficiency, and your time available to devote to the process.

First, set goals.
A goal might be to learn business Spanish over a one-month period to prepare for a business meeting at your work.
A goal might be to learn conversational Spanish over a six-month period to prepare for a dream vacation.
A goal might be to learn 10 common Spanish greetings a month to speak Spanish with your neighbors or a new family member.
Set your goals based on your needs.

Second, investigate pathways.
A pathway might be studying business Spanish online.
A pathway might be studying conversational Spanish in a traditional community classroom.
A pathway might be purchasing CDs to practice Spanish as you make your daily commute.
Choose your pathway based on your learning style.

Third, consider your budget.
Your budget may allow for online learning choices.
Your budget may allow for tutoring.
Your budget may not allow for anything except free learning choices.
Choose learning choices that are in keeping with your budget.

Finally, allot time for yourself.
Make sure to allot time that is set aside for your investment in learning Spanish, and once the time is allotted, don’t let other issues eat away at that precious time. This doesn’t mean neglecting family or work. It does not mean neglecting yourself. It means planning your time and energy so that you work smarter, and ultimately enrich your life with your new skill.

To Teach Yourself Guitar You Must First Learn Guitar Scales

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  • Learn Guitar songs

Learning any instrument – and especially the guitar- can leave you with an incredible experience that fills you with the joy of fulfillment. Whether you want to become a master of the guitar or just learn a few simple songs well.

The process of learning a guitar requires practice,practice and more practice, along with the mastering of several techniques. Included in these techniques is the requirement to learn guitar chords. Such chords is your connection to the world of music.

If you really want to learn guitar songs and be a good guitar player, it is absolutely vital that you master the basic chords. In order to learn guitar chords you must first know the sound that each vibration on each guitar string makes.

Learning guitar chords is one of the most frustrating times for new guitarists. You are eager to get on and play some basic songs but your fingers are soft and the strings feel like taut steel cables. Just getting the correct fingers into the correct position can be a chore, but I promise you that all the effort, cursing and practice it will be worth it.

  • Teach yourself guitar

When you teach yourself guitar, you are going to learn to play “chords”. When you start to master some of the basic chords it will give one a real sense of achievement to know that you can be on the road to mastering all of them. Playing a chord involves using the small plectrum to strike at least two notes on the guitar at the same time. At the same time It’s important to understand how finger placement will change the vibration on each guitar string. To learn guitar chords in this manner, practice and repetition are key to be triumphant.

You will quickly understand how the various guitar chords come together to form a song. If you know the chords, you’ll know the song – it’s as simple as that. Learn guitar scales and how to make the progression from one to another will have you playing tunes in no time at all.

  • Learn guitar scales

The best way to learn guitar scales is through chord diagrams that are written in most music books. To be able to understand chord diagrams you must first understand how a guitar is designed. On the neck of your guitar you will see a series of horizontal lines that are called frets and the strings that represent the six vertical lines on the diagram.

Each chord diagram will display a black dot showing on what string and in which fret you should place each finger. For example, to play the Em chord:

1. Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string.

2. Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.

3. Strum down from the 6th string.

This is a simple chord, the finger placement might seem a little strange but as you learn more chords you will start to see why finger placement is important.

There are five chords that are the cornerstone of all music. CAGED is an acronym for the five that most songs are built upon. If you can conquer these basic chords it will be so much easier to perfect variations on them. Pay attention to the sounds you make as you strum the chords, if you hear a buzzing noise this means that you are not holding down the strings tight enough.

You will notice that the more you practice the harder your fingertips will become. You can then confidently be reassured that your practice is paying dividends. It is also recommended that you keep your fingernails clipped, as this will make it easier to press the strings correctly.

It is important that when you are playing the notes that you use the tips of your fingers to hold down the guitar strings rather than just letting your fingers lies across the strings.

When you learn guitar scales all notes must be held down at the same time as the thumb strums the strings and practice at least 20 minutes every day.