I want to learn to play the guitar

[Babbles]

Interesting thread!

I too have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Is there any advice out there to specifically learn classic/Spanish guitar?

 

[SViper]

Originally posted by: Babbles
Interesting thread!

I too have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Is there any advice out there to specifically learn classic/Spanish guitar?

Hmmm...For classical Spanish guitar, otherwise known as Flamenco, you will want to learn to pick strings with each of your fingers instead of a guitar pick. That is what the focus is on.

If you do a google search for "flamenco," you will find a lot of information about it. I haven't studied it that much, so I don't have a lot of information to give about it.

 

[new2AMD]

turns out a friend of my wifes is hooking me up with an accoustic. Im psyched. Plan to practice, practice, practice.

 

[MustISO]

I just started playing this summer. I haven't taken any lessons, I'm just learning on my own. It's very easy to get frustrated, you need to mix boring practice with the fun of learning a song you like. Start with very easy songs with simple chords and chord changes.


I use Guitar Pro, which is awesome and Ultimate-Guitar is a great source for tabs.

Here's some other sources I use:
http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/woodshed/lessons_by_skill/lessons_by_skill.htm
http://ibreathemusic.com/
http://www.jamcenter.com/index.html
http://www.actoguitar.com/

 

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: MustISO
I just started playing this summer. I haven't taken any lessons, I'm just learning on my own. It's very easy to get frustrated, you need to mix boring practice with the fun of learning a song you like. Start with very easy songs with simple chords and chord changes.


I use Guitar Pro, which is awesome and Ultimate-Guitar is a great source for tabs.

Here's some other sources I use:
http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/woodshed/lessons_by_skill/lessons_by_skill.htm
http://ibreathemusic.com/
http://www.jamcenter.com/index.html
http://www.actoguitar.com/

sweet, thanks for the links.

 

[Fritzo]

I've got drunken guitar lessons on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r55MgpGvmHQ

 

[MazerRackham]

This thread makes we want to go out and buy a guitar today. Been waivering for a while on this. Here's what I want!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc...celectric_guitar?full_sku=513497%2e010

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: new2AMD

Originally posted by: MustISO
I just started playing this summer. I haven't taken any lessons, I'm just learning on my own. It's very easy to get frustrated, you need to mix boring practice with the fun of learning a song you like. Start with very easy songs with simple chords and chord changes.


I use Guitar Pro, which is awesome and Ultimate-Guitar is a great source for tabs.

Here's some other sources I use:
http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/woodshed/lessons_by_skill/lessons_by_skill.htm
http://ibreathemusic.com/
http://www.jamcenter.com/index.html
http://www.actoguitar.com/

sweet, thanks for the links.

:thumbsup:
I really like the fenders club link.
Here's one I found that seems good;
http://www.zentao.com/guitar/guitar-lessons.html
It addresses the left hand finger dexterity more than most of the other lessons I've found.

 

[vi edit]

If I hold 1st place in my fantasy football league and walk away with the $400 that it would pay out, I'll probably be picking up a Squire 51 and the Roland Micro Cube. I'll take lessons from a coworker that has taught guitar for years.

I've always been interested, just never really had the extra time money to really drop on the hobby. I have both now

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
If I hold 1st place in my fantasy football league and walk away with the $400 that it would pay out, I'll probably be picking up a Squire 51 and the Roland Micro Cube. I'll take lessons from a coworker that has taught guitar for years.

I've always been interested, just never really had the extra time money to really drop on the hobby. I have both now

Awesome! I went to guitarcenter for the first time today and was amazed at all the nice guitars they had everywhere. As soon as I get to the point that I can play some whole songs decently then I am definitely going to save up and get an electric guitar. I'd love to get into amps and build my own sometime too, but I'm getting way ahead of myself.

So far the internet has been great for getting all kinds of free lessons and tabs, but I wish I knew someone who could teach me like you do. When I first got the guitar I didn't have such a luxury and tried to learn from a little book and vhs tape that was not nearly detailed or basic enough for me (it didn't even use tab!).

Anyways good luck with your fantasy football.

 

[animalia]

really just don't stop playing. look at tabs get a few lessons to help you ot. I took lessons to get my foot in the door and then stopped and just kept improving my play. really make the guitar a part of you. make it second nature. hendrix played while making breakfast. I learned how to read music, but guitar players really don't need to read music. Even if you are a jazz guitarist, my friends mike got most outstanding jazz guitarist at the UNH jazz festival and he plays rock/metal/blues. Pat Metheny Bright Size Life. He friggin nailed it all by ear, had no idea what key he was in etc. Really train your ear. Listen to your favorite Zeppelin song and try to figure out what key it is in by playing each note on the 6th string to see which on matches up. the one that sounds like it goes most with the song is the key of the song usually. I've been playing for 11 years (since I was 7) and it's always been fun. It's called playing for a reason. Don't practice guitar. Play Guitar. If you arent having fun you will never get good. If you can get over this difficulty you are having it never stops getting fun. So my advice is to stick with it because it is totally worth it.

 

[animalia]

Originally posted by: new2AMD
what would you guitar players suggest is a good starter/playable guitar. I dont want to spend 1k on a guitar I wont play a ton. I would like a nice accoustic type guitar I can learn on.

Epiphone Hummingbird Acoustic Guitar : All you need with great sound at a great price. Pick one up at your local Guitar Center

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: DieselUV
buy guitar hero

QFT

 

[SViper]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: DieselUV
buy guitar hero

QFT

No offense to anyone here, but I'll reiterate: playing Guitar Hero Does not help in learning to play the guitar. You can buy Guitar Hero if you just want to have fun with it, but don't expect to pick up a real guitar after playing the game and play like Jimmy.

 

[tweakmm]

I can't stress this enough, the first year you are learning to play any instrument you want someone who knows how to play show you the correct way to play(private instructor is best). Once you get past the learning period your muscles have memory and if you learned to play with bad positioning unlearning that is going to be a pain in the ass.

 

[Manuwell]

Call Esteban !

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
If I hold 1st place in my fantasy football league and walk away with the $400 that it would pay out, I'll probably be picking up a Squire 51 and the Roland Micro Cube. I'll take lessons from a coworker that has taught guitar for years.

I've always been interested, just never really had the extra time money to really drop on the hobby. I have both now

I'd recommend taking that coworker with you to pick out which Squier you get... I've largely been unimpressed with the quality of them, but there are a few decent ones.

 

[senseamp]

Do you guys adjust the action on your guitar when you first started playing, or just play it as it came?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
I can't stress this enough, the first year you are learning to play any instrument you want someone who knows how to play show you the correct way to play(private instructor is best). Once you get past the learning period your muscles have memory and if you learned to play with bad positioning unlearning that is going to be a pain in the ass.

I'll second this. If you don't, you'll probably pick up some poor fingering habits that'll take years to unlearn.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Do you guys adjust the action on your guitar when you first started playing, or just play it as it came?

Most guitars need to be set up if they're fresh from the box. Ma & Pa stores will do this for free with a purchase. Chain stores charge around $50 or so to set it up. You need to find the right balance of low action, but no frez buzz. It's difficult to do, so I wouldn't screw with the action if you don't have any experience.

Tune-o-matic bridges are fairly easy to adjust (two thumb screws---just twist as hard as you can). Strat/tele style bridges require a hex wrench usually and you have to adjust each string. Acoustics have a bone/plastic saddle at the bridge that you sand down with sandpaper on a flat surface.

 

[senseamp]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: senseamp
Do you guys adjust the action on your guitar when you first started playing, or just play it as it came?

Most guitars need to be set up if they're fresh from the box. Ma & Pa stores will do this for free with a purchase. Chain stores charge around $50 or so to set it up. You need to find the right balance of low action, but no frez buzz. It's difficult to do, so I wouldn't screw with the action if you don't have any experience.

Tune-o-matic bridges are fairly easy to adjust (two thumb screws---just twist as hard as you can). Strat/tele style bridges require a hex wrench usually and you have to adjust each string. Acoustics have a bone/plastic saddle at the bridge that you sand down with sandpaper on a flat surface.

Well, the paperwork accompanying my epiphone guitar says it's alread set for optimum playability, whatever that means.

It says action 12th: L7 H5
1st: L3 H2

Does that sound reasonable? Also, I broke my 1E string. What replacement strings should I get at the guitar center? Can someone recommend some for my acoustic guitar.

 

[TUKIN18S]

Friends are key. Someone to support you and that know what you are going through. It's not easy to start playing. I was to a point last year where I just got pissed because I couldn't learn. I realize earlier this year that you HAVE to devote time to it at minimum 5 days a week. I am playing 6 days a week now at a bare minimum 1 hour. What really helped me was playing scales. Look up Chromatic Scale, E phrygian Scale, and the A Blues Scale. It's a start and really limbers your fingers up. I agree with everyone else too, that if your finger tips hurt still play. Don't worry about it. They will callas over eventually and you will be able to play for long periods of time.

This is where I started. http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm?terms=guitar+lessons

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: senseamp
Do you guys adjust the action on your guitar when you first started playing, or just play it as it came?

Most guitars need to be set up if they're fresh from the box. Ma & Pa stores will do this for free with a purchase. Chain stores charge around $50 or so to set it up. You need to find the right balance of low action, but no frez buzz. It's difficult to do, so I wouldn't screw with the action if you don't have any experience.

Tune-o-matic bridges are fairly easy to adjust (two thumb screws---just twist as hard as you can). Strat/tele style bridges require a hex wrench usually and you have to adjust each string. Acoustics have a bone/plastic saddle at the bridge that you sand down with sandpaper on a flat surface.

Well, the paperwork accompanying my epiphone guitar says it's alread set for optimum playability, whatever that means.

It says action 12th: L7 H5
1st: L3 H2

Does that sound reasonable? Also, I broke my 1E string. What replacement strings should I get at the guitar center? Can someone recommend some for my acoustic guitar.

Yeah, my Martin said that too and the strings were like 1/2" above the 12th fret The factory setting action is almost always too high.

As for strings, I'm a big fan of Ernie Ball Heavy Bottoms. They use light gauge on the bottom strings (.10), and medium/heavy gauge on the top (.54). It makes the bass strings nice and boomy, while giving good tone. For beginners, I like to recommend extra lights (like .08 or .09). I've never had luck with coated strings, so good ol' standards work great for me.

For acoustics, Elixir is a good premium brand. Martin, D&L, and Gibson strings are decent. It'll take some experimentation to find a set you like. Get a few different brands when you buy some and see which ones you like best.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: vi_edit
If I hold 1st place in my fantasy football league and walk away with the $400 that it would pay out, I'll probably be picking up a Squire 51 and the Roland Micro Cube. I'll take lessons from a coworker that has taught guitar for years.

I've always been interested, just never really had the extra time money to really drop on the hobby. I have both now

I'd recommend taking that coworker with you to pick out which Squier you get... I've largely been unimpressed with the quality of them, but there are a few decent ones.

The Squier '51s are supposed to be quite nice for the price.

 

[Phokus]

Chicks dig guys who can shred on guitar hero :roll:

:laugh: