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Beginner Guitar Question
Posted on 7/2/15 at 1:39 pm
Posted on 7/2/15 at 1:39 pm
I have finally gotten to the point where I can play a song on guitar. Song isn't perfectly played, but it's getting there. Is it important for a beginner to learn how to read TABs? What should be my next step? Learning new songs and chords?
Posted on 7/2/15 at 2:06 pm to TheOcean
Assuming you are not going to really take it past the "minor hobby" level you will definitely want and need to learn tabs.
If you get serious, than learning how to read sheet music as well as musical theory is probably a must.
I feel like tabs can get you pretty far, but at the same time only take you so far.
If you get serious, than learning how to read sheet music as well as musical theory is probably a must.
I feel like tabs can get you pretty far, but at the same time only take you so far.
This post was edited on 7/2/15 at 2:07 pm
Posted on 7/2/15 at 2:13 pm to taylork37
quote:
Assuming you are not going to really take it past the "minor hobby" level you will definitely want and need to learn tabs.
If you get serious, than learning how to read sheet music as well as musical theory is probably a must.
I feel like tabs can get you pretty far, but at the same time only take you so far.
This. Tabs are great for casually learning songs you know and love. Sheet music is the way to actually write music, understand music, see music, and communicate it.
Posted on 7/2/15 at 2:19 pm to TheOcean
Tabs and do yourself a favor and invest in a good loop pedal. Great for playing by yourself and building solos and keeping solid rhythm.
Posted on 7/2/15 at 2:20 pm to TheOcean
quote:
Is it important for a beginner to learn how to read TABs?
While you can learn to play almost anything by watching videos, I recommend that you at least learn tablature and, eventually, music.
Good news is that quality guitar music books often have both.
quote:
What should be my next step? Learning new songs and chords?
Depends on what you want to do. If you want to play lots of single string lead parts, I would recommend working on exercises that support muscle memory for that, other techniques that will help such as Travis fingerpicking, playing scales with a metronome (and speeding up to the tempo of the song you want to play), etc.
On the other hand, if you want to play rhythm and lots of "sing along songs" - you can't master too many chords - learn as many as you can and as many variants. You'll listen to music and realize that a cat isn't playing quite the right chord, but it works for him and the song. You need those tools to do that.
Good luck and happy playing.
This post was edited on 7/2/15 at 2:22 pm
Posted on 7/2/15 at 3:17 pm to Ace Midnight
what about strum and picking patterns. what's a source to learn them?
Posted on 7/2/15 at 3:43 pm to SFVtiger
quote:
what about strum and picking patterns. what's a source to learn them?
Mostly by watching videos or face-to-face instruction.
I have picked up a few by just reasoning through the tab.
Posted on 7/2/15 at 7:48 pm to Ace Midnight
Appreciate the help everyone
What's the best place to start learning music theory/reading music? Youtube?
What's the best place to start learning music theory/reading music? Youtube?
Posted on 7/3/15 at 8:35 am to Chef Leppard
I feel like the internet age is both a help and a hindrance to people that are just starting to play the guitar these days.
It's certainly nice to have all the learning resources the internet makes available at your fingertips, but, also, speaking personally, it's also made me a bit lazy. I've been playing for...22 or 23 years now. Jesus, that's depressing. But anyway.
I feel like I learned more, accomplished more, back in the days when, if there was a song or part I wanted to learn, I had to sit down with a tape or CD and work it out by ear. A lot of times, I think the majority of the learning that came along with that kind of work came not from having finally mastered whatever it was I was working on, but rather from the mistakes I made in the process. If that makes any sense.
ETA: I guess my advice, then, if you can find the motivation, is to do both. Take advantage of the resources you have available today, but also, spend some time working things out by ear. This will also help develop your ear and make things a lot easier for you if you find yourself playing in a group situation, and especially when you start trying to compose your own music.
It's certainly nice to have all the learning resources the internet makes available at your fingertips, but, also, speaking personally, it's also made me a bit lazy. I've been playing for...22 or 23 years now. Jesus, that's depressing. But anyway.
I feel like I learned more, accomplished more, back in the days when, if there was a song or part I wanted to learn, I had to sit down with a tape or CD and work it out by ear. A lot of times, I think the majority of the learning that came along with that kind of work came not from having finally mastered whatever it was I was working on, but rather from the mistakes I made in the process. If that makes any sense.
ETA: I guess my advice, then, if you can find the motivation, is to do both. Take advantage of the resources you have available today, but also, spend some time working things out by ear. This will also help develop your ear and make things a lot easier for you if you find yourself playing in a group situation, and especially when you start trying to compose your own music.
This post was edited on 7/3/15 at 8:41 am
Posted on 7/3/15 at 9:18 am to TheOcean
Forget tabs.
Get a book on rhythm or lead techniques and learn how the basics of chord progressions and scales and why things sound good and how to read and use the fretboard.
Even better if you can learn to read music.
Tabs are fun to learn a song or two, but they don't go very far in allowing you to develop your own music.
If you just want to be a straightforward cover artist, there's nothing wrong with that, go ahead and learn tabs.
If you want to be your own musician, learn how to play the instrument yourself .
Get a book on rhythm or lead techniques and learn how the basics of chord progressions and scales and why things sound good and how to read and use the fretboard.
Even better if you can learn to read music.
Tabs are fun to learn a song or two, but they don't go very far in allowing you to develop your own music.
If you just want to be a straightforward cover artist, there's nothing wrong with that, go ahead and learn tabs.
If you want to be your own musician, learn how to play the instrument yourself .
Posted on 7/3/15 at 11:45 am to taylork37
I've been playing since I was 10 and still can't read sheet music
Posted on 7/3/15 at 6:19 pm to TheOcean
Chords, hands down. Learning a few commonly used chords instantly opens up your song arsenal. Reading chords and lyrics while playing is much more fun than spending however long learning one song and beating it to death.
Posted on 7/3/15 at 6:51 pm to AmosMosesAndTwins
Learn the open chords and power chords. You can generally play almost any rock song after learning that stuff.
Once you get bored with that move to barre chords, (that will suck), and scales.
Learning scales will also teach you the fretboard. Once you have all that I guarantee you will be able to play almost any song you wish to learn.
Learning all the scales will also help make you a killer lead guitarist, and your confidence in playing with others will increase two fold.
Somewhere in between all of this learn some theory, at the very least chord progressions. I-IV-V, etc.
Then you'll know what to do when someone says, "Let's jam in A blues".
It's definitely a journey, enjoy the ride
Once you get bored with that move to barre chords, (that will suck), and scales.
Learning scales will also teach you the fretboard. Once you have all that I guarantee you will be able to play almost any song you wish to learn.
Learning all the scales will also help make you a killer lead guitarist, and your confidence in playing with others will increase two fold.
Somewhere in between all of this learn some theory, at the very least chord progressions. I-IV-V, etc.
Then you'll know what to do when someone says, "Let's jam in A blues".
It's definitely a journey, enjoy the ride
This post was edited on 7/3/15 at 6:53 pm
Posted on 7/3/15 at 8:32 pm to Stir of Echoes
quote:
Learn the open chords and power chords. You can generally play almost any rock song after learning that stuff.
Once you get bored with that move to barre chords, (that will suck), and scales.
This all day.
at those recommending the OP learn how to read and write sheet music.
Posted on 7/3/15 at 8:48 pm to shutterspeed
These folks bsing me, shutter?
Posted on 7/3/15 at 9:56 pm to TheOcean
I think one of the best things to do, is learn chord building.
It makes everything else easier.
At this point, I wouldn't worry about playing any song perfectly, go ahead and learn as many as you can, then you will find that you are improving all around, and its easier to play more of them well.
That's just my opinion.
I think is also good to try and memorize every note on the neck. You will see the pattern pretty quick, that will help you understand a lot of stuff.
Play around with some scales a bit when you are bored too.
It makes everything else easier.
At this point, I wouldn't worry about playing any song perfectly, go ahead and learn as many as you can, then you will find that you are improving all around, and its easier to play more of them well.
That's just my opinion.
I think is also good to try and memorize every note on the neck. You will see the pattern pretty quick, that will help you understand a lot of stuff.
Play around with some scales a bit when you are bored too.
Posted on 7/3/15 at 11:12 pm to TheOcean
quote:
These folks bsing me, shutter?
Typical message board extremism.
At MOST you'll probably want to mess with tab. I'd do as the other poster mentioned and get yourself a book of chords to mess around with while also learning to play power chords. Scales are good after you've got chords down and want to make up transitions between chords or solos to songs. But once you've got a few fingered chords and power chords down, sit down with your phone and Spotify and start figuring songs out by ear and making up your own.
Sheet music.
Posted on 7/4/15 at 9:41 am to shutterspeed
Posted on 7/4/15 at 9:59 am to TheOcean
quote:
Something like this?
Just make it for yourself on a piece of paper.
That will help you remember it better.
best 30 minutes you will ever spend.
also IMHO opinion, when you are a beginner, use a tuner before you play your guitar,every time. get one of those that just clamp on the headstock,they are quick.
and also,always look for a way to cheat(play it easier), if you learn the notes and chord building, you can always do this.
A guitar is very versatile, once you learn the basics of it, learn how it works, you can change tunings,do anything you want. Nobody can say you are wrong.
This post was edited on 7/4/15 at 10:45 am
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