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Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips please
Posted by Bigpoppat on 10/9/13 at 10:25 pm00
I have an acoustic that was purchased 10 years ago. I always picked it up for a week and "played" but never followed through. I'd finally like to give it a real shot and try to learn.
I'm not looking to be a frontman for a band or anything, I'd like to learn enough to play some "campfire" type stuff. Basic cords to play some country and blues stuff.
Any advice/books/videos. I know youtube has a ton of stuff, are there any that you guys recommend?
Also, what are some other tools I need? I know I need to go buy a few sets of new strings. What about a tuner/picks/ that type of thing?
I'm basically looking to start from ground zero and am asking the Music Board for advice
Also, is an electric easier to play than an acoustic
I'm not looking to be a frontman for a band or anything, I'd like to learn enough to play some "campfire" type stuff. Basic cords to play some country and blues stuff.
Any advice/books/videos. I know youtube has a ton of stuff, are there any that you guys recommend?
Also, what are some other tools I need? I know I need to go buy a few sets of new strings. What about a tuner/picks/ that type of thing?
I'm basically looking to start from ground zero and am asking the Music Board for advice
Also, is an electric easier to play than an acoustic
This post was edited on 10/9 at 10:26 pm
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by PurpleNGoldFan on 10/9/13 at 10:39 pm to Bigpoppat
get an acoustic first. Depending on how serious you are you can spend $100 or $1100 on one.
Focus on chords to start with. Try and stay away from tabs while you're starting out.
Learn the F, D, G, E, A, C chords to begin. F will be your hardest chord. G, D and C is a progression for a million songs.
Your fingertips will be hurting the first week or two. Play until you can't play any longer(won't be but about 30 mins at a time at first).
Stick with it.
Focus on chords to start with. Try and stay away from tabs while you're starting out.
Learn the F, D, G, E, A, C chords to begin. F will be your hardest chord. G, D and C is a progression for a million songs.
Your fingertips will be hurting the first week or two. Play until you can't play any longer(won't be but about 30 mins at a time at first).
Stick with it.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by shutterspeed on 10/9/13 at 11:04 pm to Bigpoppat
To me, an electric is easier to pick up and play because you can play simple, sloppy power chords (complete with distortion or other effects) and approximate a song.
With an acoustic, you're playing clean, and sloppiness becomes more of a detriment than a charming attribute.
With an acoustic, you're playing clean, and sloppiness becomes more of a detriment than a charming attribute.
This post was edited on 10/9 at 11:05 pm
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by Bigpoppat on 10/10/13 at 8:14 am to shutterspeed
Anyone else with advice/tips?
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by TigerTreyjpg on 10/10/13 at 9:34 am to shutterspeed
quote:
To me, an electric is easier to pick up and play because you can play simple, sloppy power chords (complete with distortion or other effects) and approximate a song.
With an acoustic, you're playing clean, and sloppiness becomes more of a detriment than a charming attribute
See, I agree with this as well, even though I know it's probably bad advice.
I also found that crappy acoustic guitars are just plain hard to play/make chords, whereas even an inexpensive electric can be found that easy to play.
Once you kinda learn what you're doing a little bit, and figure out how to use your pointer finger to "bar" the guitar/use other fingers to "make the chord", you'll see why you should probably start out on an acoustic/playing chords though.
Here are some other things that may help you "learn right"....
1. Make yourself play with your thumb on the backside of the guitar, and not the back of your hand. That'll "force" you to "wrap" the guitar neck better.
2. Use you pinky whenever you can. You'll figure out that you make every pretty much every chord without using your pinky. But learn to use it/and use it when you can. Otherwise, you'll be like me and play lazy man guitar/will never get good.
3. Hang out with folks that play. They can teach you the tricks.
Edit: don't do like my lil bro, and practice more on facial expressions and leg kicks than making chords.....he sucks worse than me.
This post was edited on 10/10 at 9:35 am
the hardest part is getting started and getting used to the awkward grips. Electric will be a little easier to start with IMO bc you wont have to press down as hard on the strings.
First learn the basics of the guitar: Strings, tunings, chords, etc.
Next focus on finger placement for chords and work on strumming patterns.
After youve got a good feel for basic chords, try switching chords during strumming.
Once you develop a good muscle memory with your grips and fingers, you can begin to learn more advanced stuff.
It just takes a lot of practice. Good luck
First learn the basics of the guitar: Strings, tunings, chords, etc.
Next focus on finger placement for chords and work on strumming patterns.
After youve got a good feel for basic chords, try switching chords during strumming.
Once you develop a good muscle memory with your grips and fingers, you can begin to learn more advanced stuff.
It just takes a lot of practice. Good luck
I would get a low end model acoustic with a low action. This will be easier to play for a beginner. The first 2/3 weeks will be pretty brutal on the fingers but once you get over that hump, it will get easier. In the beginning, I found it hard to make much progress because I could only practice for 15-20 mins before my fingertips were killing me. After you build calluses, you can practice for longer periods and make more progress.
justinguitar.com is good if you are a true beginner because he talks about everything you need to know about starting out playing
I've only been playing for 4 months so I've just gone through all this. You just have to get over that hump in the beginning.
justinguitar.com is good if you are a true beginner because he talks about everything you need to know about starting out playing
I've only been playing for 4 months so I've just gone through all this. You just have to get over that hump in the beginning.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by tidalmouse on 10/10/13 at 11:53 am to Bigpoppat
I bought several books when I taught myself because it was pre-internet.If you can learn the basic Chords E,G,C,A,D,Em,Am,F and then get to where you can change from chord to chord.
F was definitely the toughest chord starting out.
Then get the sheet music to some songs you like.It shows on what word to change chords on.If you know the rhythm of the song you're on your way.
You'd be surprised at how many songs only have 4 or 5 chords.
www.chordie.com
About every song is on this site.
When you get to where you can entertain yourself then it becomes fun.That's when it's great.
Good luck.
F was definitely the toughest chord starting out.
Then get the sheet music to some songs you like.It shows on what word to change chords on.If you know the rhythm of the song you're on your way.
You'd be surprised at how many songs only have 4 or 5 chords.
www.chordie.com
About every song is on this site.
When you get to where you can entertain yourself then it becomes fun.That's when it's great.
Good luck.
This post was edited on 10/10 at 11:58 am
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re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by greenfall on 10/27/13 at 7:13 pm to PurpleNGoldFan
Like others it is easier to get a good sound with electric. However the acoustic guitar is the better trainer for your fingers and wrists. With electric you may get better sounds quicker but you should build from a base of good technique first.
Learning Guitar at Home
Learning Guitar at Home
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by Spock's Eyebrow on 10/27/13 at 8:11 pm to TigerTreyjpg
quote:
2. Use you pinky whenever you can. You'll figure out that you make every pretty much every chord without using your pinky. But learn to use it/and use it when you can.
A good transition to learn is from open G to C using fingers 324 to finger the G, which means using the pinkie for string 1. You just have to shift fingers 32 over from strings 65 and 54 to go back and forth between G and C, which is quicker than using 213 to finger the G and 321 for C.
Another tip is that you don't have to finger the open A using 123, from bottom to top. Sometimes it's better to go 213, or just to bar it. It sometimes doesn't matter if the top string isn't allowed to ring.
Here's an example, the first three chords to Pink Floyd's "Breathe". Do the Emin with fingers 12, then go to A using the 213 fingering (pinkie for Asus4), and then to Cmaj7/G using 342, which is just an E shape but starting on the 6th string. Your middle finger (2) stays on string 4, fret 2 the whole time, and the chords kind of rotate around it.
So definitely learn the shapes with the traditional fingering, but don't be afraid to go outside the box and find the right fingering. It can make all the difference, and a lot of tabs I've seen ignore this and use really stupid fingerings. Sometimes things don't sound right if you use the incorrect fingering and play in different positions than the artist did, even though the notes are all the same.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by The Dudes Rug on 10/27/13 at 11:06 pm to Bigpoppat
Start with an acoustic. Strengthen those fingers.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by Palmetto08 on 1/9/14 at 11:21 am to The Dudes Rug
Great thread and very good replies. Thanks to all that replied.
Can someone suggest a good beginner acoustic guitar? I'd rather not buy a cheap one but understand if expense doesn't matter with beginner guitars.
Can someone suggest a good beginner acoustic guitar? I'd rather not buy a cheap one but understand if expense doesn't matter with beginner guitars.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by Ray Penpillage on 1/9/14 at 12:02 pm to Palmetto08
What's your budget?
Get something that you want to play, regardless.
Get something that you want to play, regardless.
This post was edited on 1/9 at 12:09 pm
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by Palmetto08 on 1/9/14 at 12:29 pm to Ray Penpillage
quote:
What's your budget?
$300-$500 but could go higher if needed. This is the first research I've done and know nothing about brands, prices, durability, sound, etc. I just thought I'd ask you guys first. Thanks for your time.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by luvdatigahs on 1/9/14 at 3:48 pm to Palmetto08
Learn your open chords first, then move on to your bar/power, 7th, and 9th chords.
Main thing is to just practice, practice, practice to get your muscle memory up, even though it really sucks and sounds terrible at first. Just hang in there, you'll be amazed how many songs you can play with just a few open chords.
Justinguitar.com, YouTube, and Marty are good teachers
Main thing is to just practice, practice, practice to get your muscle memory up, even though it really sucks and sounds terrible at first. Just hang in there, you'll be amazed how many songs you can play with just a few open chords.
Justinguitar.com, YouTube, and Marty are good teachers
This post was edited on 1/9 at 3:53 pm
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by TouchedTheAxeIn82 on 1/9/14 at 4:46 pm to Bigpoppat
My recommendation would be to practice on a cheap electric for two reasons:
1. They are much easier on the fingers when you are starting out, and
2. You can play on an electric unplugged all day without annoying the crap out of the other people in the house.
If you are going to buy a cheap acoustic to start off, do not buy off the internet. Go to the store, pick up a nice Taylor and noodle around. Now you know what a well-set-up guitar should feel like. Then pick up some cheap acoustics and try to find one that feels similar to the Taylor.
1. They are much easier on the fingers when you are starting out, and
2. You can play on an electric unplugged all day without annoying the crap out of the other people in the house.
If you are going to buy a cheap acoustic to start off, do not buy off the internet. Go to the store, pick up a nice Taylor and noodle around. Now you know what a well-set-up guitar should feel like. Then pick up some cheap acoustics and try to find one that feels similar to the Taylor.
re: Want to finally learn to play guitar. Advice/Tips pleasePosted by luvdatigahs on 1/9/14 at 11:09 pm to TouchedTheAxeIn82
Touchedtheaxe you wanna jam?
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