Alvarez RD8 Acoustic Guitar Review

As a cheap acoustic guitar where does the Alvarez RD8 stand up against its better known rivals such as the Washburn D10S. Is it just an expensive bit of scrap wood or a fantastic bargain?

First off let me start by saying the guitar certainly looks like it has been built with a great deal of care. It certainly isn't the flashiest of guitars but it is certainly more attractive than many acoustics that fall into the same price category.

Of course looks mean nothing to an acoustic guitar if its sound is poor. Thankfully the looks of the Alvarez aren't wasted as the RD8 sounds fantastic and is certainly a match to many of the more higher priced acoustic guitars available. For the price only the Takamine G320 comes anywhere near and there are probably only an handful at double its price that actually better it.

The guitar also has the feel of a much more expensive acoustic guitar with a very impressive playing action and it is certainly built to last for a good while, which cannot be said of many cheap acoustic guitars.. I also found the guitar took to any style of play fairly well although I freely admit I mainly play acoustic rock and little else but a friend played a little country on it and said it was just as good.

Would I recommend buying an Alvarez RD8? Put it this way I certainly couldn't give you a good reason not to. The likes of the Seagull S6 and the Takamine 340C may be slightly better but they are over a $100 more expensive so don't offer the same value for money as the RD8. This would be a great acoustic guitar for $500 but for a little over $200 it is an absolute steal.

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Epiphone Hummingbird Acouctic Guitar Review

If your looking for a cheap acoustic guitar then one option is the Epiphone Hummingbird acoustic guitar. At under $300 there is no doubt that the price is low but does it offer value for money, especially when compared to the likes of the Seagull S6.

Since the Hummingbird comes in at $80 less it is surprising that it doesn't get as much high praise as the Seagull S6. The guitar is beautiful to look at which is usually a sign with lower priced guitars that the money has gone into the looks of the guitar rather than the quality but I can assure you that this isn't the case with the Epiphone Hummingbird.

Of all the cheaper versions based on Gibson's Hummingbird guitar this Epiphone version is without question the best on offer, in fact considering the difference in price it is astonishing how close to the Gibson model this has come. The tones from the guitar offer wonderful value for the price and with a change of strings can be even better.

The size of the neck on the guitar makes it an ideal cheap acoustic guitar for beginners as it is very slimline and comfortable and has a superb playing action, for the price this is hard to find so it shows what a bargain the guitar is.

I've tested several styles of guitar playing on the guitar and found the Epiphone Hummingbird to take to them all without any problems, which is fantastic if you are a play anything kind of person. I found it particularly good with a little acoustic rock.

Would I buy an Epiphone Hummingbird? Maybe there are a few very good cheap acoustic guitars available for a similar price but if I did buy one I would certainly have no complaints and it is definitely in the top ten acoustic guitars in its price range.


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Acoustic Tab Of The Day - Blind Melon/ No Rain

This is a song I absolutely love to bits and it is such a simple song to play that any novice should be able to pick it up fairly easy with a little practice.

E5 E D E D E D E D

E D
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

A G E E7
I like watchin’ the puddles gather rain

E D
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two

A G E E7
and speak my point of view but it’s not sane, It’s not sane

E D E D
I just want some one to say to me oh,

E D E D
I’ll always be there when you wake yeah...

E D E D
Ya know I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today

E D E D
So stay with me and I’ll have it made

E D
And I don’t understand why I sleep all day

A G E E7
And I start to complain that there’s no rain

E D
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake

A G E
It rips my life away, but it’s a great escape


escape, escape, escape

Play this during guitar solo... E D E D

E D
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

A
ya don’t like my point of view

G E
ya think that I’m insane


Its not sane, it’s not sane

E D E D
I just want someone to say to me oh,

E D E D
I’ll always be there when you wake yeah,

E D E D
Ya know I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today

E D E D
so stay with me and I’ll have it made

Acoustic Guitar Tab Of The Day - Sweet Child O' Mine

There is nothing better for beginners than to hear a classic song is amazingly simple to play and Sweet Child O' Mine By Guns N Roses is one such song.

The song should pose very few problems with a little practice as the song contains nothing but the basic chords.

D
She's got a smile that it seems to me
C
Reminds me of childhood memories
G
Where everything
D
Was as fresh as a bright blue sky
D
Now and then when I see her face
C
She takes me away to that special place
G
And if I stared to long
D
I'd probably break down and cry

C G D
Whoa Oh, Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Whoa, Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet love o' mine

C G D

D
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
C
As if they thought of rain
G
I hate to look into those eyes
D
And see an ounce of pain
D
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
C
Where as a child I'd hide
G
And pray for the thunder

And the rain
D
To quietly pass me by


C G D
Whoa Oh, Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Whoa, Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet love o' mine

C G D x 2

C G D
Whoa Oh, Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Whoa, Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet love o' mine
C G D
Whoa Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Oooh Sweet love o' mine

Em C Bm Am x 8

Em G A C D
Where do we go, Where do we go now, Where do we go
Em G A C D
Where do we go, Where do we go now, Where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go, Sweet child, Where do we go now
Em G A C D
Aih, Aih, Aih Aih, where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go , where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go, where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go, Sweet Child, where do we go now Now-now-now-now-now-now
Em G A C D Em
Sweet child, sweet child of mine