GUITAR RESOURCES
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Guitar instructor, Guy Somers, compiled 100 resources in 26 tabs below for his students. He also compiled another 75 helpful resources for “independent musicians” under that tab. In the digital age most guitar students and performing musicians who advance on an instrument learn via a combination of methods - private lessons, tabs, YouTube videos, websites, sheet music, transcribing, ear training, playing with others, and performing live.
This is why there is always a need for excellent one-on-one private guitar teachers. Experienced teachers make sense out of all that material, see the problems, have the fix, save you countless hours and frustration, plus encourage you along the way. Guy has taught over 1,000 students in 25+ years. He has a distinguished record of creating success in others. Are you ready to get answers for your FAQ’s and start your guitar journey? Contact Guy by email or call today.
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© Atlantic Guitar 2025. All rights reserved.
We routinely check for website plagiarism.
As before, we will do a website takedown, and use the other tools available against plagiarists.
Tools to check for website plagiarism
Tools to check for music & lyric plagiarism
How do you know if someone has stolen your music or lyrics? How do you make sure that you haven’t inadvertently done the same? You can avoid a loss of reputation, a loss of income, and a lawsuit by using an AI plagiarism checker.
Lyrics
Music & lyrics
Song recogntion method
ACRCloud - leading web-based platform
AHA Music - web-based
Google search - What’s this song?
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HUMIDITY & YOUR GUITAR
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DIY GUITAR HUMIDIFIERS
WHY MAKE A HOMEMADE GUITAR HUMIDIFIER
Easy to make
Customizable
Very affordable
SUPPLIES NEEDED
Plastic travel bar soap box
New, never used sponge
Drill
HOW TO MAKE IT
How to make a D.I.Y. humidifier (video)
How to use a D.I.Y. humidifier (video)
Drill holes with a 5/32 drill bit in the top of the plastic soap box
Cut the NEW sponge to fit in the plastic soap box. Used sponges have residue in them that become a source for mold growth. You do NOT want mold growing in your guitar. That is why the sponge has to be a brand new, never used sponge.
Wet the sponge
Wring out excess water so it will not drip
Place the moistened sponge in the holder and close the top
If you have a carrying bag, place a large humidifier above the heel of the guitar or in the cutaway area
If you have a hardshell case, place a second smaller humidifier behind the guitar headstock (which is above the accessories compartment)
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GUITAR HUMIDIFIER CLEANING
WHY INSPECT & CLEAN THE GUITAR HUMIDIFIER
Guitar humidifiers are necessary to prevent your guitar from drying out and cracking. Yet, guitar humidifiers are prone to mold growth because of the possibility of too much moisture. (That is why it is best to buy a hygrometer to monitor moisture content in your guitar case). Below are a few important tips:
Use distilled water only - tap water has minerals that serve as a food source for mold growth
Inspect your guitar humidifier - for mold each time you rewet it
Replace the sponge - periodically
If mold persists - try a different type of humidifier like D’Addario’s Humidipak system that has replaceable packets
DO NOT BLEACH
Bleach is NOT an effective chemical to kill mold spores on porous items like a guitar humidifier sponge for multiple reasons. Bleach:
Does not kill mold spores at their root deep within porous items being cleaned
Softens and releases mold spores causing them to multiply in the air
Causes certain materials to break down thus damaging them
Fades visible surface mold and gives a false appearance of it being gone
Has a strong odor that can cause respiratory problems
WHAT CHEMICALS SHOULD I USE?
White vinegar & water (1:1 ratio)
Antifungal cleaner
Baking soda paste
Hydrogen peroxide (1 part 3% HP to 4 parts water)
HOW TO CLEAN MY GUITAR HUMIDIFIER
Disassemble - Separate the sponge from the outer case (if you have that type). Some do not disassemble.
Soak - the parts or the entire unit for 30 to 60 minutes in your chemical of choice
Scrub - stubborn mold spots with a brush if on non-porous material
Rinse - completely, repeatedly with warm water
Dry - completely for a day before reassembly and continued use
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Concerts
Farmer’s Market Guides
Family Fun
Food
Spirits
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The resources below cover the following topics to help independent musicians with:
Preparing
Publishing
Promoting
Performing
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PREPARING MUSIC
A few general resources
Top music attorney - grow your music business
Charting & transcribing
Collaborating with musicians
Fiverr - top talent for hire
Covers
Mastering studios
Vault Mastering - Phoenix, AZ
Physical media (CD’s, vinyl, DVD’s)
Disc Makers - Pennsauken, NJ
Recording studios
Self-recording, editing & mixing
Songwriting
MasterWriter - the top suite of writing tools and reference libraries
SongTown - community, coaching, connections
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PUBLISHING MUSIC
1. Check for plagiarism using AI
How do you know if someone has stolen your music or lyrics? How do you make sure that you haven’t inadvertently done the same? You can avoid a loss of reputation, a loss of income, and a lawsuit by using an AI plagiarism checker.
Lyrics
Music & lyrics
Song recogntion (exclusionary method)
ACRCloud - leading web-based platform
AHA Music - web-based
Google search - What’s this song?
2. Copyright songs
How to copyright an unpublished song with the US copyright office
6 basics of music copyright law - how to copyright songs & protect your music
How to register songs with ASCAP - 11 minute video
3. Register songs
How to register your songs with SoundExchange (recording royalties) - free registration
SongTrust (composition royalties) - $100 registration, 15% commission
4. Publish songs
Publishing rights organizations (PRO)
AllTrack - for indie creators & publishers world-wide (performance & mechanical royalties)
ASCAP - American Society of Composers and Publishers
BMI - Broadcast Music, Inc. (performance royalties for radio or bars)
SESAC - Society of European Stage Authors & Composers
5. Digital service provider (DSP)
When you accept a distributor’s terms of service you often sign away most of your rights and income, allow them to remix your music without compensation, train AI with your intellectual property, and more. All of this devalues you and your work as an artist. DSP’s are how corporations have regained control over independent musicians. So what is the fix? Independent musicians have to:
Work smarter and not just harder
Play live, develop a fanbase, sell music and merch direct to fans at shows
Drive fans to your website to purchase music, merch, and experiences directly from you
If you want to make less than a penny per stream though, below is the information to help you do that.
Digital service providers (DSP)
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PROMOTING MUSIC
Avenues to promote your music
Website
Social media
Artist collaboration
Get songs on playlists
Leverage data analytics
EPK (electronic press kit)
Play live and build a fanbase
Build a direct fan connection with exclusive content and experiences
Crowdfunding sites
Buy Me A Cup of Coffee - possibly more profitable than Patreon
DIY website builders
Termly - disclaimer generator, protect against legal liability
DIY website tools
Plagiarism and the laissez-faire attitude about it is a real problem for creators and their intellectual property. When my old website starting getting a lot of traffic from all over the world, I paid more attention to who it was and discovered other teachers plagiarizing entire pages of my website. I got good at knowing the laws, consequences for plagiarists, and doing take-downs quickly by myself without a lawyer. Below are the tools to help you do the same.
Intellectual property & website plagiarism
Electronic press kit
Music promotion tools
Video
Adobe Premiere Rush - quick easy video editing app for social media
CapCut - easy to use all in one video editor & graphic design
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PERFORMING MUSIC
Acoustic amps
Booking tools
IndieOnTheMove - top up-to-date venue database and booking contacts
ShowSlinger - booking & ticketing
Decible meter app
House concerts
Home Ditty - pre-house concert online RSVP & donation collection system
Side door access - digital booking & ticketing for virtual and house concerts
Pedalboards & custom pedals
XAct Tone Solutions - Nashville, TN5. Songwriting
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Music theory flashcards - for guitar & piano
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EastWest Sounds - the best virtual instrument sounds & libraries
Guitar Pro - best tab maker and reader
Guitar2Tabs - transcribe guitar music to tabs from recording, upload or YouTube video
Sibelius - notation software
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3 nail shapes - 21 minute video
Down ramp nail shape - 12 minute video
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Floyd Rose - tremolo kit parts
FU Tone - Floyd Rose upgrades
Warmoth - custom parts
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Guy Somers has the training and experience to propel a healthy playing style. As a young metal guitarist he developed an RMD due to how he was taught to play. That led him to study classical guitar beginning at age 15 to correct the problems. He learned efficiency of motion that healed his hands, made him a better musician, and provided for a lifetime of musical enjoyment.
RMD’s are a group of dysfunctional muscular conditions caused from multiple factors including poor or bad technique when repeating the same motion or activity. Musicians are especially prone to developing these but things like gaming, texting, typing, and sports also contribute. RMD’s typically affect musicians hands, wrists, elbows, neck and shoulders. Treatment is needed to prevent RMD’s from getting worse and causing permanent damage. Doctors are seeing them develop earlier than ever. It is not just tied to physical overuse but there is now strong evidence that RMD’s are worsened by a pro-inflammatory diet that includes:
Refined starches & sugars
Processed and fried foods
Excessive alcohol
High sodium
Seed oils
RMD’s are caused by
Overexertion
Muscle fatigue
Incorrect posture
Pro-inflammatory diet
Unnatural or awkward motions
Microscopic tears in the tissue
General bodily Inflammation from being overweight
Symptoms include
Tingling
Discomfort or pain
Area is warm to the touch
Visible swelling or redness
Loss of flexibility and strength
Examples of RMD’s include
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Bursitis
Tendonitis
Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
Ganglion cyst
Tenosynovitis
Trigger finger
Rotator cuff injury
Dystonia
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Song Town - songwriting tips (videos)
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Buy online
How to Restring
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Free tab sites
Jazzstudies.us - 500 transposable songs with chord #’s
Ralph Patt - 400 standards with backing tracks
Songsterr.com - 400 jazz standards and other styles
Ukulele tabs - over 100 sites
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Chords
Hand & wrist position videos
The perfect left hand position - 9 minutes
First finger exercise for beginning guitarists - 6 minutes
Finger & pick independence
Economy & sweep picking - with tab
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Music dictionary - terms, instruments, symbols, composers
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Tuning for beginners
Tuning for experienced players
Tunings - alternate