National guitar month: INTERNATIONAL GUITAR MONTH -April 2023

International Guitar Month – Best 10 Ways To Celebrate It

April is International Guitar Month, a time when we look forward to celebrating “all things guitar.” In this article, I’ll show you some ways you can make it a fun and productive experience. Even if you are a seasoned participant, you will find some ideas that will spark your interest. There is no better way to satisfy your guitar obsession than to take part in this yearly ritual.

How Did International Guitar Month Begin?

Who is International Guitar Month For?

Celebrating International Guitar Month

Keep It Going After International Guitar Month

Final Thoughts

Tell Me What You Think

How Did International Guitar Month Begin?

International Guitar Month (IGM) was started in 1987 by the Guitar & Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA) and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as a way to market the guitar and its related merchandise to the general public. The other objective was to help build awareness of the benefits of guitar playing and commercial artists’ contributions to the instrument.

 Each year International Guitar Month has grown in scale with an increasing emphasis on guitar instruction in the form of international workshops and the publication of a wide variety of educational materials.

Who is International Guitar Month For?

International Guitar Month is for everyone. It is essentially a time for “guitar appreciation.” Everyone is invited to participate in their own way. If you play the guitar or enjoy listening to guitar music, then this month is for you. Professional and beginning guitar players love exchanging ideas and helping each other take the instrument to the next level.

On a more commercial level International Guitar Month provides manufacturers an opportunity to market their products. If you are thinking about making a major purchase like a guitar or amplifier, then April is a good month to shop because you can find sales and special deals almost everywhere you look.

Celebrating International Guitar Month

I’m totally immersed in “everything guitar” 365 days a year, but I always try to do something a little special for International Guitar Month. I make it a point to learn something new that will lead me in a fresh musical direction and encourage others to do the same.

Here are ten of the best ways to celebrate International Guitar Month. What you do is up to you, but mark the occasion and have fun with it. You might be surprised how much you can accomplish in just 30 days!

Make More Time To Play Guitar

We can all use more time to play guitar! For me, it’s like an addiction, so I usually have to put time limits on how much I play on an average day, or I would never get anything else done.

I play guitar every morning at 6 AM (year-round) for a couple of hours when fewer people are awake to disturb me. I’m “fresh” into the day and more open to being creative.

I always set aside extra time in April to play more guitar, which means I have to be more organized. Every March, I look at my calendar to see what I have scheduled in April that can be done sooner or pushed into May.

Learn Or Write A New Song

International Guitar Month is a great time to tackle that song with the almost impossible guitar solo you always wanted to learn. Work on it a little each day, and you will see some real results. If you are a beginner, then chose a song that is realistically within your grasp and get busy. Pushing your technical skills is one of the best ways to become a better player.

If you play guitar purely for enjoyment and are not looking to improve your skills, then make it a point to add some additional songs you like to your repertoire.

When inspiration strikes, get your ideas down on paper or record them with your favorite app. Maybe it’s time to dig out those lyrics you jotted down a while ago but never finished or put to music.

Buy A New Guitar

If you have been thinking about adding another guitar to your collection or buying your first instrument, then budget ahead of time to make your purchase in April. Many people are spread too financially thin during the traditional holiday season to treat themselves to a pricey item. There are always sales on guitars and other musical equipment, especially online.

Already have a guitar but haven’t played it in a while? Maybe it’s time to pull that dusty guitar case out from under the bed or the back of your closet and give it another go. There a plenty of free beginner tutorials and courses available to get you started.

If you don’t need another guitar (seriously??) or can’t afford one, then purchase something smaller as a treat to mark the occasion. I might buy something that I have been wanting or have recently discovered in a guitar magazine, even if it’s just something as small as a set of guitar strings or a new type of guitar pick.

Give Your Guitar Some Tender Loving Care

Most of us tend to neglect to perform routine care that our instruments deserve to function properly and sound great. This can be easy to put on the back burner, especially when life is coming at you every which way. The more guitars you have, the more challenging this can become.

Have you been playing on those same dull-sounding strings for way too long? That’s an easy and inexpensive fix. While your strings are off, you have an excellent opportunity to clean the neck and frets and give the rest of the guitar a good polishing.

Maybe it’s time for that guitar setup that you have been putting off. If you don’t have the skills or tools to make it happen, your local music store might give you a deal during International Guitar Month. See my article on How To Keep An Electric Guitar In Tune.

Enroll In A Guitar Class

It’s easy to get in a rut and find yourself playing the same songs or riffs again and again. Maybe you have writer’s block, or you can’t seem to get motivated to jump into something new.

One of the best ways to put the musical spark back into your playing is to enroll in a guitar class. Online classes give you the flexibility to complete lesions on demand, which can make them easier to fit into your hectic schedule. Many excellent YouTube videos are available to get you started.

If you are looking for a more comprehensive and structured commitment, you can check out some of the online guitar methods. They can evaluate your skill level and create a program that is customized especially for you. Many of these online guitar methods have a free membership, which gives you a chance to evaluate the program to see if it fits your specific needs. Yousician and Fender Play are two excellent guitar learning systems.

Are you thinking about going pro? Many universities offer online teaching programs. These programs may offer individual courses as well as degree programs. How far you end up taking it is up to you, but why not sit in on a class and see what you think? Check out the Berkeley Online or Musicians Institute Online.

So you’re more of a “people person” and enjoy learning in a one-on-one environment? You can always go “old-school” and take an “in-person” class at your local college or a guitar lesson with a private instructor. This is a great opportunity to make new friends that share your musical interests and live in your area.

Teach Someone Something New

If you ask a seasoned guitar player how to celebrate International Guitar Month, the most common answer you will get is to teach someone something new.

There’s nothing like the feeling of gratification you get from helping someone out on the guitar. Perhaps that person has been struggling with a particular concept or technique when there is a much better approach. There is always an opportunity to show someone something new, which can open up a whole new world of possibilities and be the motivation to go further.

Taking even a few minutes to help a fellow musician can make playing the guitar a positive experience. You might end up being surprised at what you learned in the process.

Listen To More Guitar Music

We can never listen to enough guitar music! If you’re like me, then one of your favorite bands or players got you started on your guitar journey. When I first heard the Jimi Hendrix “Are You Experienced Album” way back in the early 1960s, I went out and bought my first starter guitar and amp at Sears and never looked back.

Most guitarists develop their own unique playing style from carefully listening to various players in diverse musical genres. My local music store owner used to tell me, “your playing is only as strong as your record collection.” I was just a kid, and it took me a little while to figure out exactly what he meant by that.

Delve Deeper Into Guitar History

Some of the best players are scholars of the history of the guitar in their style of music. It’s worthwhile to take the time to discover some of the little-known people that had a hand in starting it all. Muddy Waters used to say, “the blues had a baby and called it rock and roll.” Many of the biggest blues players, like Eric Clapton, are disciples of the old blues masters like Robert Johnson.

The chances are that many of the killer guitar licks you are trying to learn came from simpler but similar phrases played by guitarists you may not ever even heard of. It pays to do the research, and it’s all part of immersing yourself in the learning process.

While you’re at it, it’s always fun to learn some guitar trivia. Maybe you like learning about guitar innovators like Leo Fender or Les Paul. Curious about who built the first guitar neck with a truss rod? It’s all waiting for you online, so get those search engines humming!

Here is a short video from the Smithsonian Channel on the “History Of The Electric Guitar,” as performed by G.E. Smith. Check it out, in honor of International Guitar Month!

Discover A New Band Or Guitar Player

Most guitarists are well aware of their musical genre’s biggest players like Jimmy Page, Joe Bonamassa, Eddie Van Halen, or Steve Vai. Still, chances are they are missing out on some of the unsung heroes that really took a guitar style to the next level.

Here are some examples of guitar players whose names may be new to you. Pick out a few and check out some of their tunes. 

Blues Artists

• Albert Collins – AKA “The Ice Man”
• Albert King
• Freddie King
• Hubert Sumlin – Guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf
• John Lee Hooker
• Clarence Gatemouth Brown
• Lightning Hopkins
• Robert Johnson
• Muddy Waters
• Walter Trout – John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers, Canned Heat

Country Artists

• Chet Atkins
• Vince Gill
• Albert Lee
• Glen Campbell
• Jerry Reed
• Merle Travis
• Johnny Hiland
• Roy Clark

Jazz And Jazz-Fusion Artists

• Bucky Pizzarelli
• Al Di Meola
• Earl Klugh
• Allan Holdsworth
• Frank Gambale
• Frank Vignola
• Joe Pass
• John McLaughlin –  Mahavishnu Orchestra
• Larry Coryell
• John Scofield
• Larry Carlton
• Lee Ritenour
• Pat Martino
• Pat Metheny
• Robben Ford – See Robben Ford Ohne Filter 1993 DVD Review – An Amazing Concert

Rock Artists

• Danny Gatton
• Gary Moore – Thin Lizzy, Skid Row
• Cliff Gallup – Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps
• Jeff Healey
• Martin Barre – Jethro Tull
• Neill Schon – Santana, Journey
• Robert Fripp – King Crimson
• Steve Lukather – Toto
• Mike Keneally
• David Gilmour – see Delicate Sound Of Thunder Blu Ray Review – Fully Remastered!
• Leslie West – Mountain
• Popa Chubby
• Rory Gallagher
• Roy Buchanan
• Steve Morse – Dixie Dregs
• Uli John Roth – Scorpions
• Tony Iommi – See Black Sabbath End Tour – Blu Ray Review – Is That Really It?

Join A Band Or Start Your Own

If you had ever played guitar with a group of musicians when you were growing up, even in a “garage band” that wasn’t very good, then chances are you have some great memories to share!

Why not pick up where you left off and get some friends together for an impromptu jam? You never know where it could lead, and at the very least, you can have yourself a little well-deserved fun. Remember, oftentimes, “tomorrow never comes.”

Did you say you’ve never been in a band? One of the best ways to expand your musical horizons is to go ahead and give it a try! No matter how good or bad you are, there is probably a group of people just like you looking for a guitar player at this very moment. All you have to do is reach out and find the situation that works for you. It’s never too late to join a local band or start one of your own.

Keep It Going After International Guitar Month

Click Here To Grab My Free 54-Page eBook: Playing Tips For Beginning, Intermediate, & Advanced Players. My Gift To You!

If you started something totally unexpected or new, then why not keep it going? It doesn’t all have to end at the start of May. Use that momentum to set a goal and move toward it one step at a time. One of the best things about International Guitar Month is that it provides a refocusing point to help you pursue your musical ambitions year after year.

For more info on keeping it going, see How To Stay Motivated To Learn Guitar – Top Tips For Success.

Also, see New York Guitar Festival – A Thrilling Musical Gem For You!, for info about another excellent organization.

Final Thoughts

International Guitar Month gives like-minded people the chance to come together to celebrate “everything-guitar.” This event’s most fundamental mission is to make people aware of the joy of experiencing guitar music as a player or listener. It’s a commemoration of one of the most popular instruments in the world today.

April is also a commercial opportunity for designers and manufacturers of guitars and related equipment to market and sell their products. This can present you with an excellent opportunity to find the stuff you want on sale at a price you can afford. Make it a habit to monitor your local music stores and online places that you do business with each year at this time.

Make it a point to get involved in the festivities every year by doing or experiencing something new. One of the most rewarding things you can do is to help bring the guitar into someone else’s life. 

If you are a “tattoo person,” then consider getting your favorite guitar, guitar player, or band tattooed in a place where you can enjoy it and proudly share it with the rest of the world.

If this article has sparked your interest in the guitar as something that you would like to have in your life, then you are at the beginning of something truly wonderful that will enhance your overall happiness for years to come.

Tell Me What You Think 

Please let me know what’s on your mind in the comment section, or if I can help you with anything.

• Do you have anything you would like to add about celebrating International Guitar Month?
• What are you thinking about doing, buying, or selling to commemorate this event?
• What do you like best about International Guitar Month?

About Frank

National Guitar Day 2023 – How To Celebrate!

These days there seems to be a day to celebrate almost everything! And wouldn’t you know it, we also have a day to honor our axes – National Guitar Day!

The origins of this day are steeped in mystery and intrigue as nobody really seems to know when it originated, or indeed, who even started it!

Still, according to a recent survey, the only instrument more popular than the guitar is the piano, so a day for celebration is certainly warranted!

When Is National Guitar Day?

National Guitar Day (also known as Get Out Your Guitar Day) is observed every year on February 11th. So, for 2023, the big day will fall on Saturday, February 11th.

How To Celebrate National Guitar Day

There are a number of ways that the event is meant to be celebrated, and you won’t be surprised to hear that they all revolve around the guitar in all of its various incarnations!

1. Rekindling A Forgotten Hobby

Are you one of the many people who previously bought themselves a guitar, but found that life got in the way and stopped you from becoming the rock god you were destined to be?

Well, this is the perfect day to finally dust off your instrument and restart your journey to virtuosity with renewed vigor! Reacquaint yourself with the instrument by checking out my guitar parts diagram!

Perhaps commit to some weekly lessons from a tutor, or take out a subscription to an online course to ensure that this time you stick with it.

Follow some of the best Instagram guitar pages and other social media channels for daily inspiration to keep going.

If you’re a little rusty, why not dip your toe back in the water with my guide to 150 simple songs on guitar?

2. Inspiring New Players

The second purpose of national guitar day is to try and inspire new people into picking up this incredibly rewarding instrument. It is hoped that by doing this we can grow the worldwide guitar community and help inspire the next generation of Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix level players.

If you are looking for some great ammunition to help convince others to take up guitar, check out my article on why the guitar is an awesome hobby.

3. Inspire Yourself!

Ultimately, this is also a day for YOU! It is a day for finally putting together that new band, heading out to catch a new gig, writing some new music, at long last nailing that impossible solo, or treating yourself to a shiny new piece of gear!

If you have a friend, partner, or family member who plays guitar it could also be a great gesture to buy them a shiny new piece of gear! Have a peruse of my list of 101 gift ideas for guitarists for some great choices!

Or you could wait until National Buy A Musical Instrument Day on May 22nd!

One of my favorite ways to get inspired is to fire up YouTube, put on a live performance or interview from one of my favorite guitarists, and then just let YouTube do its thing and take you down the rabbit hole!

You could also get the creative juices flowing by having a night in and enjoying one of the many excellent guitar-related movies and documentaries. Check out my list of 50 movies that musicians will love!

It is also a day for nostalgia. Remember when you first picked up guitar and finally nailed that first riff, lick, or full song? Well, today is the time to revisit those old favorites and remind yourself of just how far you’ve come on your musical journey.

4. Learn More About The History Of Guitar

We all play guitar, but do you know anything about the rich history of the instrument? For example, did you know that the oldest known representation of a guitar being used is a stone carving from around 1300 BC?

Today is the perfect time to dig a little deeper and educate yourself about these wondrous tools we all know and love.

Use #NationalGuitar Day On Social Media

If you spend as much time glued to your Instagram feed as you do playing guitar, then make sure to also join in on the fun by using the #NationalGuitarDay hashtag. Don’t use #NGD as this means something else entirely – New Guitar Day!

You can also use the hashtags #GetOutYourGuitarDay or #WorldGuitarDay, but these are less widely used than the one above.

Tag your guitar pictures, recordings, and videos to interact with other guitarists from around the globe. Failing that, why not share this article or the sweet graphic below to let all of your friends know about this special day.

National Guitar Day Poster

Below you’ll find a handy Get Out Your Guitar Day poster which you can share to help spread the word to friends and family about the big day. Why not print it out and pin up a few copies around town or in the office.

If you share the graphic on social media please also remember to link back to this page!

For those who would rather print the graphic then you can click here to download a larger A4-sized version (will open in a new window)

Get Out Your Guitar Day Sales

If you own or work in a guitar store then what better way is there to help highlight this day than by hosting a special one-day-only sale?

As the day is also about promoting the instrument to new players it could be the ideal time to run a special on beginner guitar kits as well.

Other World Guitar Day Holidays

Did you know that there are other special days for us guitarists? Here are a few more that you can take part in. Advance warning – some of them are just plain ridiculous!

1. National Electric Guitar Day

National Electric Guitar Day is observed annually on November 27th. The aim of this day is to celebrate all things electric guitar – no acoustics allowed!

2. International Guitar Month

If a day wasn’t enough for you, then how about an entire month?

International Guitar Month takes place throughout the full month of April and is the perfect time to celebrate one of the world’s most popular instruments.

3. National Bassist Day

National Bassist Day is held annually on October 12th and is an event specifically for our 4 and 5-string friends. Related post: 41 Famous Left Handed Bassists.

4. Hug A Bassist Day

If you fancy showing the bass player in your life that you appreciate them, then October 12th is the ideal day to do it! Or drummers can join in on the shows of affection during National Hug A Drummer Day a few days prior on October 10th.

Or! November 13th is National Hug A Musician Day if you want to go crazy with the hugs! Seriously, who comes up with these days…

Fun Guitar Facts

To round off this guide, here are a few fun facts which you can use to impress your musician friends this Get Out Your Guitar Day!

• The most expensive guitar ever sold is Kurt Cobain’s 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic.
• The world’s largest playable guitar is 43ft (13m) long which is roughly the same length as a bus!
• The world’s smallest playable guitar measures just 10 microns long, or 1/20th the width of a human gair!
• Fender produces around 90,000 strings every working day!
• The world record for the longest time continually playing guitar is a whopping 114 hours!

Craving MORE facts? Check out my article on 43 Amazing Facts About Guitar!

You’ll Love These Articles Too!

• 19 Reasons Why Guitar Is a GREAT Hobby
• When Is National Left Hander’s Day?
• The Most Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

International Guitar Festival in Argentina

Page address: https://www. calend.ru/holidays/0/0/2337/

October 7,

Photo: Zheltyshev, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

From October 7 to 19, Buenos Aires hosts the International Guitar Festival , dedicated to everyone who loves to play the guitar (International Guitar Festival).

The first festival was held in 1995, and since then more than 200,000 guitar lovers have attended this impressive event. The festival has gradually become one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world.

Hundreds of talented performers are mostly from Latin America, but there are also well-known guitarists from Germany and a number of other European countries.

Of course, everyone has their own playing technique, their own music, their own songs. The festival is very interesting for those who love live sounds and incendiary rhythms of Latin American melodies. nine0003

The doors of the festival are open to everyone, and artists must apply to perform 6 months before the start of the event.

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“Holidays of Argentina”

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