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I've been meaning to pick up guitar for a while and I'm planning on picking up a acoustic soon before xmas so I can get started, any tips on how tostart out?
Guitar heads, school me on guitar.
- Thread in 'General' Thread starter Started by brilliant overlord,
- Start date
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I'd recommend a Jasmine acoustic as a starter guitar. They run$130-$200 and sound damn good for that price. Go down to Guitar Center or a local musicshop in your area, mess around with a few, and ask an employee for help. Never guy a guitar before you play it.
As for actually learning, you should start out by learning all the notes on the neck. It will seem boring, redundant, and useless, but I promise you thatit's the basis of understanding music theory. Then learn your open major chords and practice switching between them in all different combinations. Onceyou start to get that, try learning the major and minor scales (as well as the pentatonic and blues scales if you want) and also barre chords. There areplenty of websites (I'd recommend www.cyberfret.com) that have lessons and explain how all of what I just told you ties together. You might also want topick out one of your favorite songs that seems simple and learn it through tablature that you can get off of the internet. This will help your rhythm andability to keep time.
Most of all, you need to practice your *%% off and if you're not serious about it I wouldn't waste your time and money because it doesn't comeeasy. Set aside an hour a day to practice all of the things you're trying to learn.
If you have any other questions I'd be happy to help.
- Tical.
As for actually learning, you should start out by learning all the notes on the neck. It will seem boring, redundant, and useless, but I promise you thatit's the basis of understanding music theory. Then learn your open major chords and practice switching between them in all different combinations. Onceyou start to get that, try learning the major and minor scales (as well as the pentatonic and blues scales if you want) and also barre chords. There areplenty of websites (I'd recommend www.cyberfret.com) that have lessons and explain how all of what I just told you ties together. You might also want topick out one of your favorite songs that seems simple and learn it through tablature that you can get off of the internet. This will help your rhythm andability to keep time.
Most of all, you need to practice your *%% off and if you're not serious about it I wouldn't waste your time and money because it doesn't comeeasy. Set aside an hour a day to practice all of the things you're trying to learn.
If you have any other questions I'd be happy to help.
- Tical.
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I knew Tical was going to be first in this thread
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So you can learn guitar for free off the internet? Will an hour every other day cut it? I want to be able to play but I'm not super serious about it yet.
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all u need .........
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Tical. You play the bass right?
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Thanks, I was planning on buying something that's about 100 dollars but then thirty more isn't so bad. So I should start out by learning the notes onthe neck and playing simple tabs huh? I'll have a lot of time to practice during xmas break so putting an hour aside a day shouldn't be a problem.
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I do, and I suck.
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if you're not super serious or maybe even if you are you should spend time learning actual songs you like.
when I took lessons 10 years ago my 30 minute weekly sessions was 15 minutes learning theory and chord construction, learning how to solo with the instructorplaying rhythm and vice versa, and drills to increase speed/accuracy. then 15 minutes where I would bring a tape (back then) with a song I wanted to learn andhe would teach it to me. It made the lessons a lot more bearable because I was learning guitar as a hobby mostly, I'm not going to start a serious band oranything.
Also learning tabs makes it easier, learning songs like Boston's More than a Feeling, or Led Zeppelin's Whole lotta Love give you an appreciation andyou see how the theory is applied. After one summer of lessons 10 years ago, I know a few scales from which I could put together a solo very easily, I knowtabs very well (cause its easy) so I can learn anything right away, and I understand notes so if you give me sheet music I could probably learn it in a day.
As far as learning guitar play from the Internet: tabs no doubt, you can be a total parrot and play music that's already been written. theory and such, itwould have to be a very good website, I've never really come across anything that good.
when I took lessons 10 years ago my 30 minute weekly sessions was 15 minutes learning theory and chord construction, learning how to solo with the instructorplaying rhythm and vice versa, and drills to increase speed/accuracy. then 15 minutes where I would bring a tape (back then) with a song I wanted to learn andhe would teach it to me. It made the lessons a lot more bearable because I was learning guitar as a hobby mostly, I'm not going to start a serious band oranything.
Also learning tabs makes it easier, learning songs like Boston's More than a Feeling, or Led Zeppelin's Whole lotta Love give you an appreciation andyou see how the theory is applied. After one summer of lessons 10 years ago, I know a few scales from which I could put together a solo very easily, I knowtabs very well (cause its easy) so I can learn anything right away, and I understand notes so if you give me sheet music I could probably learn it in a day.
As far as learning guitar play from the Internet: tabs no doubt, you can be a total parrot and play music that's already been written. theory and such, itwould have to be a very good website, I've never really come across anything that good.
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I'll just do what I can do with the internet since I don't have the time or money for guitar lessons, some of my friends play guitar so I can jam withthem and try to improve.
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Good luck to you man - i'm self-taught and still learning, as of about 4 years now.. i go hot and cold with it depending on the week, and how much i feellike playing. I'm not very good, but i have a good understanding of the basics and when i'm older i hope to have enough free time to really practiceand get good at it.
I once heard from somebody that it can take up to 4 hours a day of practice to be improving at guitar after you've gotten through the basics...
There's a different between practicing and playing, too.. it should be noted.
I once heard from somebody that it can take up to 4 hours a day of practice to be improving at guitar after you've gotten through the basics...
There's a different between practicing and playing, too.. it should be noted.
Josizzle
formerly jongjong24
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work on them callous fingers
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<-- Self-taught, played for 12 years
Be devoted, stay away from guitar tabs until you're comfortable with the basics, and be devoted.
Be devoted, stay away from guitar tabs until you're comfortable with the basics, and be devoted.
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Yea, I understand it takes a lot of time to get good at guitar, its the same for everything else, if you're enjoying it time will fly by.
Btw, how long have all you guys been playing?
Btw, how long have all you guys been playing?
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ive been playing for about 4 years but im no where close to being good...
im self taught so i have no clue if im playing correctly...but i used my ear before trying to learning anything the proper way.....
thats not really good since i cant read music...so i basically i just use what i know to jam....
im self taught so i have no clue if im playing correctly...but i used my ear before trying to learning anything the proper way.....
thats not really good since i cant read music...so i basically i just use what i know to jam....
Josizzle
formerly jongjong24
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i been playing for almost two years...self taught..im pretty comfortable with it, just keep playing..its all about being committed and it will come
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I've had my guitar for 6 years.
But my years of actually playing could be around 2 years. I'm self-taught and pretty much picked some stuff up from watching and listening.
Aaand.. I didn't get to practice the basics and all at first. I skipped to reading tabs (Which was the easier way).
It's really tempting to skip the basics cause you'd really want to learn to play all of the songs you've always wanted to right this instant.
And yes it does feel REALLY AWESOME to learn a song.
If you really want to learn and be good, take everybody else's advice: BE PATIENT.
There's a lot of information on the internet, it's there, YES... BUT it can overwhelm you. You'd probably end up wanting to learn so many thingsall at the same time. Just take it easy, learn it one step at a time.
It can get TOTALLY FRUSTRATING (and YES, I MEAN REALLY REALLY FRUSTRATING).
But let me tell you, even those one hour practices daily can totally make a difference. I can play a lot of stuff but I'm still learning the basics, really(the scales and all that stuff).
And hey, those famous guitarists you know, they kept practicing constantly for hours and hours and that's what made most of them great.
For example, even if I just keep on picking constantly for 15 minutes, it drastically helps me with playing already.
Really, just take it slow and be patient.
Also... Just keep listening to all types of music because it can help you with your playing.
Aaaand if you think there's this song you want to learn how to play but you just can't seem to get no matter how hard you try, drop it at first. Thentry playing it after a while (could be days, months, years etc.) and you'll be surprised that the next time you play you'd wonder how the #%#& youcould play it now.
But my years of actually playing could be around 2 years. I'm self-taught and pretty much picked some stuff up from watching and listening.
Aaand.. I didn't get to practice the basics and all at first. I skipped to reading tabs (Which was the easier way).
It's really tempting to skip the basics cause you'd really want to learn to play all of the songs you've always wanted to right this instant.
And yes it does feel REALLY AWESOME to learn a song.
If you really want to learn and be good, take everybody else's advice: BE PATIENT.
There's a lot of information on the internet, it's there, YES... BUT it can overwhelm you. You'd probably end up wanting to learn so many thingsall at the same time. Just take it easy, learn it one step at a time.
It can get TOTALLY FRUSTRATING (and YES, I MEAN REALLY REALLY FRUSTRATING).
But let me tell you, even those one hour practices daily can totally make a difference. I can play a lot of stuff but I'm still learning the basics, really(the scales and all that stuff).
And hey, those famous guitarists you know, they kept practicing constantly for hours and hours and that's what made most of them great.
For example, even if I just keep on picking constantly for 15 minutes, it drastically helps me with playing already.
Really, just take it slow and be patient.
Also... Just keep listening to all types of music because it can help you with your playing.
Aaaand if you think there's this song you want to learn how to play but you just can't seem to get no matter how hard you try, drop it at first. Thentry playing it after a while (could be days, months, years etc.) and you'll be surprised that the next time you play you'd wonder how the #%#& youcould play it now.
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My girl just bought me a Johnson acoustic a few weeks ago.
I dont really know how good that is compared to others cuz i play electric guitar.
But it seems okay and it wasnt that expensive.
One thing though, it was alot more different than what i thought it would be.
It has higher action than electric so i get quite a few brittle notes when i play.
I thought i would just pick it up and jam....NO SIR.
Def go in to guitar center and test a few out.
And im just gonna throw it out there since it is my instrument, try electric.
Its a bit pricier (buying a decent amp and all) but i think it might be slightly easier to learn.
Your fingers will def thank you if you play electric because of the point i mentioned earlier (the action = distance between fretboard and strings) is smaller.
Learning on the internet sounds like it can lead to LOTS of frustration, especially since you cant have someone show you your mistakes and help you correctthem but im sure it can be done.
Just have patience.
Oh yeah, i cant read music either
I plan on taking a class over the summer though
I dont really know how good that is compared to others cuz i play electric guitar.
But it seems okay and it wasnt that expensive.
One thing though, it was alot more different than what i thought it would be.
It has higher action than electric so i get quite a few brittle notes when i play.
I thought i would just pick it up and jam....NO SIR.
Def go in to guitar center and test a few out.
And im just gonna throw it out there since it is my instrument, try electric.
Its a bit pricier (buying a decent amp and all) but i think it might be slightly easier to learn.
Your fingers will def thank you if you play electric because of the point i mentioned earlier (the action = distance between fretboard and strings) is smaller.
Learning on the internet sounds like it can lead to LOTS of frustration, especially since you cant have someone show you your mistakes and help you correctthem but im sure it can be done.
Just have patience.
Oh yeah, i cant read music either
I plan on taking a class over the summer though
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I'll go to guitar center on black friday and play some guitars there to see which one I like, if they one I end up liking goes on sale then lucky me.Thanks for the advice guys.
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I went from borrowing my friend's knockoff Strat to buying an Alpine White Gibson Les Paul Studio online. And at that time I bought it, I've onlyplayed maybe less than 10 other electric guitars.
Tips: Don't rely on tabs. A lot of people seem to pick up the guitar rather than a lot of other instruments because it has been made typically easy tolearn; look up tabs- read them- place finger- strum. Just like any other instrument, virtuosity is needed. Learn your notes, theory, practice articulation withyour notes, ect.
But if you aren't TOO serious about it, then just stick with tabs, if playing classical pieces, or popular songs is your interest.
Josizzle
formerly jongjong24
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also, what type of guitar are you looking to play? i think its better to start off acoustic, cuz u develop your fingers more
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Uhhhh w/e Tical...
To be a master guitarist....
All you really need is the P.O.D....
Behold...
/thread.
Lock this one up mods...
To be a master guitarist....
All you really need is the P.O.D....
Behold...
/thread.
Lock this one up mods...
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Yessir I do, but I dabble in guitar and am fairly decent in my own humble opinion.
- Tical.
