We recently heard the buzz about a new video game coming out this fall called Guitar Rising. It's similar to Guitar Hero except gamers use a REAL guitar...any kind of guitar. Sooo...not only a video game, but a learning tool for people who want to play real guitar. This game is being made for both PC and MAC - no game consoles required, and includes a USB connection for hookup to any guitar. DFW Guitars is looking forward to seeing this game in action. Anything that encourages learning to play music is a good deal. Tina (DFW Guitars' office manager and Dave's beloved gf - brownie points?!) is learning to play guitar - she's excited about this new game and wants it as soon as it's available for distribution. She's figured out chords, but believes Guitar Rising will increase her strength and dexterity. The question is are the "Guitar Heroes" ready to move up to the next level for some REAL guitar action?

If you own an acoustic guitar, especially a higher end model made of solid wood -- not laminate, or "plywood" -- then you really need to take steps to protect your guitar. During the winter months we all run a furnace of some kind to heat our homes, and whether it's gas, electric or space heater the results are all the same, it dries out the air in your home drastically.

Do you ever notice in the winter your skin and lips are always dry? And that wet sponge you did the dishes with last night and left on the sink, the next morning is bone dry? The same thing is happening to your guitar.

Cold temperatures alone dry the air out considerably, but running a heater of any kind adds to that significantly. The optimal humidity level for an acoustic guitar is between 30% and 60% depending on the temperature it's being stored at.

Guitars are made of wood. So obviously too much humidity is a bad thing. (Never take your guitar in the shower with you! haha) But not enough humidity can be just as damaging. Glue joints can dry out and separate, and solid wood can just split out of nowhere.

The easiest way to prevent this and preserve your guitar is to purchase a guitar humidifier, keep the humidifier in the guitar throughout the winter season, and keep the guitar in the case at all times when it is not being played.

There are many humidifiers on the market ranging from $15 to $45 dollars. It is my experience that the humidifier which is placed inside your guitar produces the best results over one that sits in the case.

The best option is to get a good quality humidifier which is placed inside the guitar, and a hygrometer, a device which measures relative humidity levels. If you can keep the guitar in the case, buy a small hygrometer which will fit in the case with the guitar. If you must leave your guitar out on display on a stand, or on the wall, then get a good hygrometer to mount on the wall of that room and use a room humidifier (like mom put in your room filled with water and Vicks Vaporub when you were a kid and got sick), check the humidity level daily, and adjust the humidifier accordingly.

You may be spending a little money now, but believe me, taking these steps will save you a LOT of money in the long run. I have repaired many split tops on very expensive acoustic guitars. While sometimes the repairs can be made almost invisible, the integrity of the wood is compromised, which affects the tone of the guitar and leaves the door open for more splits, repairs, etc. in the future.

Call your local guitar store and ask for the Accessory Department to get what you need to make it through this and all of the coming winter seasons. Look at it this way, it's a $15 to $45 dollar insurance policy - - and how much did you pay for that guitar?

Any questions, feel free to email or call me or your local professional at your nearest guitar store.

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