| teaching/learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/28/2005 12:07:19 PM | any suggestions for someone learning to play guitar. I recently started but having a bit of trouble really learning. What is a good way to learn? what are some good books to learn from, i was lookign for one on ebay but there are hundreds of different ones.
I'm interesting in learning how to play rock music | |
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qmar
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Joined: 7/25/2005
Msg: 2 | |
| learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/28/2005 9:40:34 PM | Well...the best way to learn...at least in my opinion..is to jam with someone who is slightly better than you. And watch what they are doing. little tricks and stuff you will pick up make a big difference.
Other than that...all those boring drills that you hate doing? DO them..and do them lots. The biggest ones for me were the ones that got me using more than just my thumb and pointer finger on both hands...
One more big thing...Learn to play everything on your Clean Channel. If you can play something clean...you will sound way better...distortion covers mistakes very nicely.
My .02 since no one else chimed in | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/28/2005 10:06:22 PM | Guitaralliance.com has some really good information on it...if you can learn on your own...this is probably the best way to go....
Start by learning your basic chords...keep doing them until each one comes naturally....I'll just stress that you're really only gonna get good if you can put in at least 45 mins a day...its all about muscle memory...and keep at those drills for building dexterity.....
Another thing that probably helped me when I was just starting, was looking up the tabs for relatively difficult songs...and playing them til I got them down perfect....but don't let the tabs take away from your ear for the music.....
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/29/2005 7:35:00 AM | | Regardless of instrument and genre, private lessons with a good instructor are invaluable! | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/29/2005 8:53:06 AM |
Regardless of instrument and genre, private lessons with a good instructor are invaluable!
This is the best advice so far. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/29/2005 10:48:25 PM | some of the best adivce given to me:
"you have to stop learning how the guitar is supposed to be played...and just PLAY it"
this came from a friend who is self taught and better than me...yes, chords and scales are a good starting point...but you just have to sit down and start playing notes to get "acquainted" with the fretboard.....
Some of the best guitarists were self taught....HENDRIX....need I say more?
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 7/31/2005 9:30:58 PM | | I found an exelent book called improvizing rock guitar (in 1980)it came with one of those floppy records ya a record that gos on a turn tabel any ways it was full of great scales and cliche's.It explained tablature and a system of playing in what was described as boxes as you change key you just move your hand to the box for that key.It had 2 songs on the A side of the record and the B side was a breakdown of the various cliche's.Also the rythem tracks were all recorded on the left channel so if you wanted to jam you just turned down the right channel to cancel the lead work and visa versa if you wanted to hear the lead work you could turn down the rythem tracks.I find too many new players depend on their electronic tuners, tune your guitar with it but also learn to recognize the tones by ear this will train your ear and you will be abel to pick out the notes and cords of songs with out even having a guitar in your hand.good luck I've been playing for 30 years now and dont regret one blister or sliced finger or major hand cramp lol its always a blast jamming with new people even the best players can learn something new. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 8/1/2005 1:00:04 AM | Private lesson is a good advice. You will need someone that will watch you and correct you.
My other advices will be:
- Study music theory first
- Don't try to play chords right away, be patient.
- Finger exercises and picking are basic and most important, these are what you should be studying at least for the first two weeks.
- Learn guitar discipline
- Do the exercises everyday at least 10 munites. Discipline is a must. Master your exercises, take a look at the scales and learn how chords form etc.
Instead of memorizing, try to understand what you are doing. This will help you to play comfortable.
Try to learn everything as good as it gets. If you learn things wrong now then later, it is gonna be hard to change your habits and correct yourself.
These are the very basic things you should know. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 8/1/2005 5:51:02 AM |
Some of the best guitarists were self taught....HENDRIX....need I say more?
for every master/genius there are millions of "self taught" players. Go ask any pro what their advice would be! | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 8/1/2005 7:58:49 AM | I have been playing guitar for about 40 years now, all self taught. I have a 12 string acoustic, some other instruments, and a small 4 track studio.
I compose my own material, and have even gotten air time on local radio.
I just love playing, and have never had a lesson ( except from various guitar magazines) . The secret is to pick it up, and lose yourself in it. Let your soul fly, and don't try to be anything but yourself.
It's a little like life.... | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/7/2006 10:07:28 AM | networking with other people who play is a great way to learn or steal riffs and Idea when your starting out . the guy who mentioned the pentatonic scale is right on about that it's easily the most used scale in rock blues and jazz .
learn all your chords I mean all of them . If you look around on the net you will find a lot of chord finders for free to use and then try to apply them to everything you do . Listen to a lot of different things to get ideas and practice alot , Guitar playing is a very disciplined thing and needs alot of time to " get into your head and hands " . You have to woodshed alot and just play the thing . | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/10/2006 1:28:56 PM | | Like others in this thread, I have to recommend getting lessons. That's what I did when I first started learning guitar, and it was key. You learn good habits, and skip out on teaching yourself bad ones. It's invaluable. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/11/2006 6:04:28 PM | ....and save yourself a lot of $$$. I may have some bad habits but I am doing fine my teaching myself, practicing A LOT and playing with others.
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/12/2006 2:16:50 AM | | My son took guitar lessons for about a year to give him the basics then just plays every single day, it's amazing how far he's come in the last year. I think it was a good way to go but I think with any instrument, practice, practice, practice. We also picked him up some great method books from the bookstore at Berklee College of Music in Boston that a friends recommended and he's just works on them at his own pace. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/19/2006 6:19:01 PM | | i agree to disagree, yes reading is good, but the ear is what produces the exact feeling of the song. example, played with alot of people who can fly playing scales, but these same people can't hold a 3 chord blues progression. simply you can't reproduce the spirit of a song on paper, if you don't belive me try playing some jimi hendrix from sheet music , no soul. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/19/2006 10:01:25 PM |
simply you can't reproduce the spirit of a song on paper, if you don't belive me try playing some jimi hendrix from sheet music , no soul.
Right on, my opinion on the lessons/self taught argument:
There are plenty of good resources out there that will teach you things properly...for much less money than private lessons. I haven't taken lessons...and I've learned quite a bit...and I play every day...I have PASSION. That is all that's really needed, good info and the passion to play.
It also depends on the learning style of the individual...I'm definately a self-learner...gimme a book, guitar, and hours upon hours...and I will master the techniques.
Learning to read sheet music might help you if all you want to do is play other people's songs...but what I think helps more is just picking songs out by ear....if I wanna play a cover tune....I put the song on and play....and I'm at the point where I DESPISE TABS. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/25/2006 1:31:30 PM | | books are a trap unless you are really talented. Jam with someone who's experienced or get yourself a teacher | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/25/2006 3:49:41 PM | I've been trying to get started to play since forever now lol. Everytime I get my guitar out & look at the pages of music-theory I get sidetraceked by something else & then I tell myself "I'll do it tomorow" lol .
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/25/2006 6:34:01 PM | Just a tip. Drop the books and theory.
Go and get your guitar, and turn our all the lights.
Now just play it, at what ever level you are at. Just make sounds.
Fall in love with it, and listen to it speak.  | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/25/2006 7:02:14 PM | you build up calluses on your fingers
Symptom of "bad" technique, ....you want NO callusses.
books are a trap unless you are really talented.
No, books are never a trap, talent has nothing to do with it, .....desire, and hard work is the key.
Regardless of instrument and genre, private lessons with a good instructor are invaluable!
Bingo, ...and it never hurts to meet a good teacher half way, ....knowledge, add that to desire, work, ...
Learning to read sheet music might help you if all you want to do is play other people's songs...
Nonsense, self-limiting is self-limiting, ....end of story.
Just a tip. Drop the books and theory.
Been at it since '67.
Pro since '76
Have taught off and on since '79, from beginners to guitar players with BAmus, MMus, and Doctorate degrees.
Still working as a session player/arranger/co-producer.
Self-taught.
Books and theory did this.
It allowed me to get on the fast track to playing with pros, at a very early age, and learn from world-class players, .......the BEST teachers.
If you don't care beyond "campfire songs"?
Don't get into it to much, that guitar will get a few bucks at a garage sale if you get discouraged, loose interest.
If you have the urge to learn, do so by removing limits and the dogma of the lazy "strummer".
my 2¢ | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/25/2006 11:45:14 PM | murphy83,
The geet is wonderful instrument to learn, and play. While I was over seas I had picked up a used nylon-string geet for 1 U.S. dollar. Got on the net, and found some very good resources.
Check the "About" web site/pages as they have some intro stuff for beginners. Also, pick up a couple of books and a chord chart from the book or music store. Some of the first chords you should learn are A, C, D, G, and a couple of other's - can't recall. Once you have these down you can actually start to play some simple music... It should take you a night or two with some practice.
Recently, I picked up a a metal-string geet from Steve's music store here in Toronto, and can tell you that sound that comes out of this instrument is beautiful. You will also need a tuner.....I would suggest a chromatic tuner.
Remeber - it takes a lot of practice, but I'm pretty sure you can do it.
Good luck! | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/26/2006 8:33:20 AM | thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I have actually been playing now for 5 months, I pick up my guitar everyday. I have learned a few songs and have the major chords down(except for B, i hate playing that chord). Anyways, I have been trying to learn new songs all the time and been learning a bit about scales and theory. I'm coming along pretty good with it. Someday i'd like to have lightning fast fingers and play solos kirk hammett style.
I think i'll stick to the self teaching, i'd like to say in a couple of years when I am better that it was self-taught, i'll get more satisfaction i think from being able to say that. Also, i've noticed that sitting down with others that are a bit better than you or around your level of playing is a great way to learn.
again, thanks to all for the suggestions
cheers, 
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/26/2006 11:15:45 AM | | i just have a hard time changing from say a C or a G chord to a B. It's a hard chord to form, well relative to the rest of them. But i'm working on it. | |
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/26/2006 11:34:36 AM | any suggestions to become better at soloing. I've heard to learn scales, which I am in the process of doing now, and of course lots of practice. I love guitar solos, anything by GNR, metallica, pink floyd, zeppelin. You name it with a good solo and I love it.
Anyways, just wanna hear peoples thoughts and opinions.
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| learning to play guitar
Posted: 1/27/2006 6:51:40 AM | | On that B chord. I've only been playing for 5 yrs so I'm still very new to this instrument but I've found this worked and still does work for me. As part of your warmup everyday, strum every chord you know, followed by the B chord. Some of the combinations will sound horrible together but the point here is muscle memory. Eg. ABEBCBDBAmB..Etc. In no time, you will have that chord down. Further, I do that still with any new chord or one that isn't quite as clean as I want. When I discovered bar chords(B was my first), I used the same method. Anyway, I'm not a pro but I hope this helps you out. | |
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