Julius is a guitarists and music Coach. Music instructor and founder of the Music Coach Ug. I also offer private guitar & piano lessons for children from age five and adults as well.
checkout my channel for free lessons & engagement
https://youtube.com/@juliusnatuhwera?si=e4BjBICgC5Zcbvdo
What do you love now, that you hated when you were younger?
Back then when I was still a teenager, we didn’t own a tv. So I loved to stay out late at the neighbour’s watching TV and catching up with my friends. In fact one night a community security personnel escorted me home. My mother was really mad she had to punish me. She had no idea I was out. It was way late past midnight. My mother always wanted me to be home earlier than 8:00pm. She hated it when I came back home late and she had to scold me or something like that. She always warned us about the dangers of being out late but we always thought to ourselves, ” why so much fuss?”
Surprisingly, now that I’m old, independent and live in a home of my own, I stay home almost all day and I can count the number of times I’m home past 7pm. In fact I really hate being out late in the night. I now know the danger and the evil that lurks in the dark.
As for the tv I loved to watch all day all night long, I hardly ever watch it. So it’s funny how the things we once loved or hated so much can turn out to be the total opposites.
What’s a time you followed your gut and it turned out to be exactly right?
As a child, I wanted to be a professional accountant. When I got to high school, I fell in love with sciences and changed my dream to becoming an engineer. Along the way, I learnt how to play the guitar and fell in love with music. So I thought to myself, what’s the problem with this anyway? I can do these both. However when I got to advanced level and started doing physics, chemistry and math, I had very little time for music. I missed playing the guitar so much. I eventually started losing interest in the science subjects and started focusing more on music. I made up my mind to take on music after my advanced level studies. My parents and friends were all disappointed but I was determined to do it against all odds.
I finally found happiness at the music college I went to. This eventually gave birth to the music coach foundation. This has enabled me achieve most of the things I thought I would only be able to achieve if I took alternative paths. Looking back, I am such a happy man thanks to the decision I made. I followed my gut and it seems like things turned out just fine after all.
What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
As a young man, I always had big dreams. I dreamed of becoming a very successful engineer, an accountant or a very successful business man. I got the chance to travel as a child to several countries like England, Spain, France and Whales. This further motivated me to work had and be able to travel on my own as an adult. I believed that I would have enough money to own a home in most of my favorite countries since I was going to be a business man who would be traveling around the world most of the time. Looking back at those days, it’s quite laughable even getting to own the single home I do have now is a blessing in itself. But growing up and viewing life at a different angle, I really think we don’t need that much to enjoy life.
Now all I do is sit out side my simple home, play the guitar, sometimes the piano and other times simply listen to music as I view the hills and nature around me. I mostly spend my time watching videos on social media and basically resting most of the time. I travel to he city once in while to train students music and my desire o actually travel broad had long died, some how lost he love and interest to travel. It’s kind of weird the things we imagine as kids. Well, I guess I dreamed of the stars and landed on the moon. Pretty fair.
Learn the minor chords in the key of C and the relative minor scale which is A minor scale. This scale is also commonly known as the Aeolian scale the sixth mode of the seven modes in music. It can be used to create a sad mode it’s an amazing scale and sound worth learning and adding to your music. Check it out by tapping the link below https://youtu.be/O-WZrduym0U
Below are the illustrations of the scale and the chords. You can follow the link to watch the video for the illustrations.
The A minor scale.The A minor chordThe E minor chordThe D minor chord.
In comparison to a hand made guitar, the electric guitar is a relatively simple instrument.like the acoustic, it has a wooden neck, but it’s body is usually solid rather than hollow and typically made from a dense, durable hardwood although some instruments use metals or plastics. The tone produced by the best electric guitars can be every bit as complex and nuanced as that of acoustic instruments.
How it works.
Lacking a hollow resonating body, a solid body electric guitar cannot produce a clearly audible tone on its own. Instead, one or more magnetic pick-ups are mounted on the top surface of the body, between the fretboard and the bridge. An electrical signal is generated by the pick-ups when the guitars strings vibrate. This current is carried through the guitar and lead to the amplifier which transforms it into audible sound. Effects pedals such as fuzz and wah wah can be placed in between the guitar and amp or the amp may incorporate a variety of effects that can be controlled via a foot switch.
Acoustic guitars are the perfect tool for songwriting and impromptu performances, and the best examples have a vibrancy and complexity of tone that can be matched by few other instruments. While the majority of acoustic guitars are built in factories, there are luthiers (guitar makers) in nearly every nation. If you get a chance to try a hand made guitar, you’ll notice it has an extra richness of tone that you won’t find in many factory made guitars. The attention and detail that goes into such instruments comes at a price, but if you decide to invest in one, it will give you a lifetime of superb service.
Construction.
The body of an acoustic guitar is essentially a hollow box. The top or soundboard is made of strong light wood, typically Sitka spruce for steel-string acoustic guitars. Its job is to resonate freely and generate sound. the back of the guitar and it’s curved sides have a different job to do. Instead of being light and flexible, they must provide structural strength and reflect sound outward towards the listener. For this reason, they are made of strong dense hardwood such as rosewood or mahogany. The guitar’s neck is usually attached to the body with a glued dovetail joint, although some makers prefer a bolt-on design. The necks of nearly all modern acoustic guitars contain a slender adjustable metal rod known as a truss rod. It’s used to induce a slight bow shape in the neck that makes playing easier.
Sounding out.
When an acoustic guitar is strummed, the vibration of the strings is transmitted from the bridge into the soundboard. The broad flexible surface of the soundboard vibrates in sympathy with the strings and sets the air around the guitar into motion, generating sound. the other parts of the guitar’s box-like body also help to project the sound. For this reason, an acoustic guitar produces a louder sound than an unplugged electric guitar ( which has a solid body and requires amplification).
This chapter gives you the information you need to choose and buy the right guitar for you. Buying your first instrument, or even a new one is always a mystery if you don’t have enough or right information about it. So if you’re asking yourself, “how do I choose or buy the right instrument?” This is the right place for you to be today. It explores it explores the basic construction of both acoustic and electric guitars, and explain the principles by which they make sound. It examines a range of models- acoustic, semi-acoustic, and electric guitars like I will show you a bit later. But of course this will only be a fraction of the countless guitars designs out there. You may pick or aspire to a particular model because its played by a musician you admire but remember that when it comes to guitars, however flashy the design or big the manufacturer’s name,the tone of the instrument is what counts. Tone is determined by the complex play between the guitar’s build , and components. It is therefore essential to try before you buy. Make a good music shop/store your number one priority.
Amps and electronics.
These are a great recipe to the screaming rock and roll sound and tone.
It’s hard to talk about guitar in particular electric guitars without the need to talk about amps, effects pedals and electronics in general. If you’re buying an electric guitar, you’ll also need an amplifier to produce any meaningful sound. You don’t need to spend a lot though because a basic small size practice amp is all you need for a start but just as with the guitar, you need to try it out first. You need to carry your guitar with you or choose one similar to yours and try out the amp.
A small sized amp is good enough to get you started.
You’ll also be tempted by the amazing number of sound effects units you can bolt onto your basic kit. While you may already have an idea of what reverb and overdrive is, I will guide you on a range of effects you can use to shape your guitar sound. Understanding how various types of amps enhance your sound and how sound is modified when you press an effects pedal will help you make confident choices when buying. While this is exciting for some, for others it is no substitute for the raw sound of a fender telecaster or the stage presence of a Marshall amp stack. By all means, take inspiration from your guitar icons but above all, experiment and develop your own sound.
The Music Coach Ug 