guitarists?

okay, I'm plannng on hopefully *fingers crossed* getting a guitar this fall. I know nothing about the guitar, so if anyone could answer some questions, I will love you forever and ever and ever! PLEASE!

1. Can I teach myself to play and eventually write so I can develop my own style at it? Or since myself and everyone around me knows nothing about the instrument should I get a teacher?
2. What would be the best type of guitar to start out with? This is keeping in mind I've never held a guitar, also I have no knowledge really, and I have a teeny tiny budget!
3. What do I need to do to keep it in good shape? Like, keep it in tune and everything? My sis had a kiddie guitar and never played it. You pluck a string and it makes aweful sounds.. it's bad.
4. Do you have any advice for me starting to play? I'm really into guitar sound, and rock & roll. Plus, my writing has fallen in quality so it no longer works as poetry... hehe I need music to back it up. Although, the best music works as poetry, ......oh well, doesnt matter, sorry off topic...

ANY advice at all from a guitar player would be sooo greatly appreciated. Thanks.

~~~rock on hip folk~~~~~~~

 

1. It depands on you. I tought myself, and there are plenty of online resources as well ...check out the guitar lessons at www.mxtabs.net or just google for some.

2. I would say an accoustic, most songs can be played on it, and it works well for struming and such. When you get into solo playing and such, get an electric..but master the accustic first... (it's also much cheaper).

3. Yet again, use online lessons to learn how to tune it, or buy a tuner. Tune it as frequently as possible, (pretty much whenever you notice a change of sound).

4. Take it easy. Learn the chords first, and then start out with basic songs using those chords. (Knocking on Heaven's Door) and other songs like that are very easy to learn and give ya good practice. Take it easy, practice everyday... and have fun

 

heheh.... yeah I'm prepared to work my ass off for it. Anything for my ol' pal rock & roll. Thanks for the advice, man.


And thank you BraveSirRubin, very much for your help. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!

i now love the both of you forever and ever and ever....

No, but really, thanks.

 

heres another link:http://Tabcrawler.com

 

No worries, anytime

 

Don't dismiss getting lessons immediately, its seen as being "cooler" to have taught yourself, but it does make it harder, especially to learn new techniques etc - and if you teach yourself bad habits its hard to break them later on.

Spend as much as you can on the best guitar you can - go into music stores and just pick up guitars (another reason for getting lessons, if you don't know anyone who can help you buy your first guitar you could get your teacher to) - there is nothing worse than learning to play on a bad guitar, high action, sharp frets - these will all put you off learning. If you have enough cash i'd recommend a good electric, if money is tight then spend it on a good acoustic rather than a cheap electric.

Just take care of your instrument, same as you would any other expensive item - be careful about moving between extremes in temperature (hot -> cold etc) - this will warp the wood, also keep it somewhere dry with as little humidity as possible, again dampness can warp the wood.

Change your strings when they lose their brightness - and always keep the guitar tuned, even when you aren't using it for a long period, this helps the tuning stability of the instrument.

Although originality and feeling are important, theory is just as important - don't miss this out, theres nothing worse than watching guitarists with the best fingers in the world who know nothing about how music works, it seems like such a waste.

Don't put limits on yourself, by all means set goals, but if you don't feel like practising for 5 hours one day, then don't - pushing yourself like that will only put you off - practice when you are in the mood for it, you'll find the better you get the more often you'll be in the mood and vica-versa!

Find other people to learn with, maybe a friend who wants to learn an instrument (not necessarily guitar) - theres no better incentive for improvement than seeing a friend get better than you! And it will also be useful for trading knowledge, if they learn a new technique they show you, and you show them stuff you learn.

Don't try and limit yourself to one particular style, it may be cool to be able to play skater punk, but it won't help you when you are required to play a classical fingerpicking piece - learn everything you can, listen to all sorts of guitarists playing all types of music.

Well, theres heaps more - but you can learn that for yourself!!

Good luck!

 

Don't settle for the cheapest guitar you can find. It doesn't have to be a Gibson or Martin, just one that stays in tune with easy action that produces a nice tone.

And a tuner is a must. They are cheap under $20

Get to know the guitar. When you look down at the fret board, know that starting with the heaviest string it's E A D G B E.

Then learn the chords A B C D E F G. Start off with major chords then learn the minor. Then the barre chords for each of those major and minor. When you are using a major barre chord look down at the position of your fingers and you will see your index finger is like a capo and the rest of your fingers are in an E major position.

Then become familiar with the fret board. Those markers will come in very handy. Try doing an exercise moving up the fret board starting with low E string.
E-open
F-1st fret
G-3
A-5
B-7
C-8
D-10
E-12 *the 2 dots indicate an octave betweeen the high & low E

These strings are your root notes and are the foundation to any song.

Then there are the basic 3 note chord progressions, heard in blues, country, rock and r & b.
E A B
G C D
A D E
C F G
D G A

Then solo between those progressions when you learn scales.

 

whoa... thanks good info guys. Heh, it looks like I've a hell of a lot to learn. But I'm ready. I think I don't really have the $$$ for a teacher, but my best friend has a nice electric guitar and attends lessons, so maybe she'll help me out with the basics. I think I'll probably need to go with an accoustic, because first the money, and also I know about 1/4 of my school has electric guitars, but I know very few with an accoustic. I've got a nice place to store it... I used to play cello and I had to make sure the wood stayed out of extreme temperatures and humidity and all that, but I gave up the cello, I tired of it's sound. Can't really rock out with that thing... but it was all they had to offer at school lessons, so....


Anyway, thanks very much. I'm looking foward to it. Hopefully, me and my friend will be able to learn things off eachother and get better.

~~peace~~

 

You'll develop technique a hell of a lot faster if you start out on acoustic and your fingers will adapt like twice as fast even though it'll probably hurt quite a bit in the beginning. Crafters are excellent (under-rated) relatively cheap guitars and even yamahas are generally well made and will stay in tune for long periods of time. I teach guitar and I always tell my students to avoid becoming dependant on lessons. 5 at the most, but really 2 should do it. Just to kind of give you a head start. After that buy a couple easy books and save your money. The internet is a good source but sometimes hard to follow and you should feel secure with whatever technique you're using.

Best of luck to ya sis, hoping for the best.
Ashley

 

Don't look over the top three i'd say....

Martin LXM (travel guitar, but it's an 0 size.. it works)
Martin DXM... I think the DXM. It a dreadnought.. think the top is solid. The LXM is HPL laminate.
Then you have the 3/4 size Baby Taylor.
The 15/16 Big Baby Taylor
And of course, the Taylor 110.

Those are at the top of my list. Also look into larrivee parlors.

 

I just noticed I said top three. Don't mind that. I didn't know what the hell I was talking about when I said "don't overlook the top three".......

 

as far as guitars go, you can get a fender stratocaster or telecaster for about $375, possibly cheaper. that is however the barebones model, but theyre still good guitars. check em out at www.fender.com . they should have sound samples and what not.

learning... well, i think thats been pretty much covered. listen to as much music as you can, because you will hear things you like and incorporate them into your own style. dont be afraid to play around with it either... its all the different little things you cand do that make the guitar so kickass!

 

This is perhaps the worst piece of advice I've ever heard except for the play often recommendations. The reason why he still semi-sucks at it is because of not playing with others and listening to other people. LISTEN to what everyone says and play with as many people as you possibly can. If you can afford lessons - take them. Many people become great from being self - taught, but in terms of understanding theory - lessons are important. I am essentially self-taught, but occasionally hear of a good instructor and spend a few weeks with them and it makes a world of difference. Finally, even the best electric guitar players out there will tell you that they honed their skills on an acoustic and are forever grateful for it.

 

I know something about the guitar, and if you are going to love me forever and ever and ever, well then I will gladly share what I know with you . . . though I would have told you for nothing.

You CAN learn the guitar without a teacher, but it will take you longer to get good at it, you will waste a lot of time "reinventing the wheel," you will risk developing some really bad habits that may prevent you from being really good later, and you risk overlooking some really basic stuff. You would have to be really lucky to stumble across the information that any good teacher would give you during your first year or so of lessons.

Think of music as a language. Like any language (Latin, Sanskrit, Swahili, etc.) you CAN teach it to yourself, if you have good resources and are really freakin' good at learning on your own. But it is much easier, and your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and composition (chords, scales, theory, technique, etc.) will be much stronger and much more thorough if you have a teacher.

Imagine trying to write a poem or a short story in Latin, Sanskrit, or Swahili. Imagine trying to read what you wrote to someone who was a native speaker of these languages.

If nothing else, play with other, knowledgable guitarists and learn from what they're doing.

Yamaha makes some quality stuff at every price range. Fender Squier guitars are certainly functional beginner instruments. Obviously you have internet access so be sure to look around to see what is available. Check out these sites: www.guitartrader.com www.zzounds.com www.music123.com

First of all, get the best guitar you can afford. When you first get it, have the guitar guy at your music store do a set-up. He will adjust the string height, the bridge (intonation) and just generally make it as easily playable as possible.

Check the tuning, EVERY TIME, before you play it. And then tune it if necessary. You will learn how to do this fairly quickly. It makes a huge difference, since an out of tune guitar sounds like crap no matter who is playing it.

Change the strings fairly often (heavier strings sound better, but they are harder to bend), and keep it clean (wipe away dust, fingerprints, and any blood, cum, snot, drool, hair, skin or bone fragments). Treat it like you would an infant or a piece of wooden furniture - you know, don't leave it outside, don't step on it, don't let it freeze or catch fire and don't pour fluids on it.

Learn how to play the music that really moves you. Buy a chord book and maybe a songbook of your favorite band. As you learn more about how and why music works the way it does, think about how and why your favorite music moves you. What is it about your favorite music that "gets" you. Work with that to create music that expresses what you are all about.

I have been playing for more than 25 years. I am experienced enough that I can do anything I want with a guitar. But for me, even now, the real challenge, and the real pay-off, is creativity. Lessons will give you chords, scales, techniques, effects, and ideas - the tools with which to create, but you have to actively seek out and explore your inspiration. And when you are the first to discover a new song, well that is the good stuff, that is ecstacy, that is where God hangs his halo and where the muse hangs her nightie.

Finally (oh good . . . finally . . . doesn't this guy ever shut up?) and most importantly, learn how to really listen to music, really listen to what you play and love it, love the sound, love the process, love everything about playing guitar. In my experience, people who really love what they do are usually really good at it.

You're welcome. I would love to know how it works out for you.

 

I went to guitar lessons for about 3 months and pretty much ended up teaching my guitar teacher. I even wrote different fingerings for chords.... that was when I was learning them. Yes, I've developed a hell of a lot of bad habits, but i've learned to put them to good use and make them part of my playing. I pretty much did everything Dopesickkid did except I did it on acoustic guitar and practiced an about 7 hours a day....sometimes 8. Maybe I re-invented the wheel..... or did I innovate it... I don't know... but it says a hell of a lot for someone who has only been seriously playing for 4 years or so.... I think four years... I dunno. My first guitar was when I was 6.... but I wasn't too serious back then.

 

I've been playing guitar for like 3 years now, and when I was starting out, I sucked sooooo badly, until I took lessons for like a year and a half. I learned lots of theory and techniques, and even picked up on some stuff of other instruments. Lessons with a good teacher are a must if you are serious about playing guitar. Use the internet too! It's an amazing resource, especially forums on guitar sites. Try www.guitar.com, or www.guitartricks.com .

 

1. Already done, many many times. On my picking and fingering hands. Drgs prevent some pain .
3. Buy a guitar with a case.
5. Buy acoustic electric so you have best of both worlds .
6. True

Also make sure you learn to play without a pick as well as with one.

 

i taught myself to play, but dont dismiss teachers right away because you can learn alot of music theory and such like from them to really help you to understand music inside and out.

starting with an acoustic is good, and it means you can get a good sound without having to fork over money for an amp just yet.

a tuner is a good idea, and if your room is cluttered like mine, i would recommend some sort of guitar stand to stop it getting too battered. ideally you should tune it every time you play it so it sounds great, but often i cant be bothered. every couple of days suits me ok.

get tabs from the internet or books to get you familiar with chords and so on. oooh yeah, maybe a chord book would be a good idea if you like. learn songs you want to play, because then you'll enjoy playing it more, sounds obvious i know, but you'll pick it up easier too.

just play it until your fingers hurt or even bleed and practice like fuck everyday. you'll get good, i promise. although i'm still working on the "good" bit.....

 

I really love you guys... I knew I could count on this site for some advice! Thank you all very much.


~peace~

 

depends, personally i'd start off with an electric guitar, cause its smaller and easier to handle, and next thing you do; make sure you get a pick.

Your style is influenced by what music you and your friends listen to, mess around with it see what you like best.

get an electric tuner, only $15 and easy to use.

dont keep it in any extreme element

you can teach yourself to play, but i highly recomend taking lessons so you have someone you can refer to and teach you kick ass song riffs

(yes i am a guitarist)