I want to learn to play the guitar

[senseamp]

Originally posted by: 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.

Thanks.
I ended up getting the D'Adarrio EJ16 light springs from Guitar Center for $5. The guy said they were pretty good value. They seem OK to me. If I break these, I'll try the Martins next.

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: 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.

How often do strings need to be changed? Is there an easy way to tell? My strings must be very old... but they were not played for a long time time.

I do have some new strings in the case (all of them except for 3rd & 4th strings). They are Darco light gauge bronze wound strings by Martin Guitar Company and appear to have been purchased back in 1991. Should I put them on or just buy a whole new set?

 

[senseamp]

Originally posted by: 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.

Man, you are so right about the action. I adjusted that hex bolt for the neck, kept tightening it, until I got fret buzz, then backed off a little bit. Now the action is much lower, about 1mm off the frets. So much easier to press all the notes I couldn't do well, like F's and B's and other notes are much easier on the fingers. I wish I did it long time ago, would have saved me a lot of finger pain. :thumbsup:

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: hscorpio

Originally posted by: 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.

How often do strings need to be changed? Is there an easy way to tell? My strings must be very old... but they were not played for a long time time.

I do have some new strings in the case (all of them except for 3rd & 4th strings). They are Darco light gauge bronze wound strings by Martin Guitar Company and appear to have been purchased back in 1991. Should I put them on or just buy a whole new set?

Old strings won't sound very good. You need to change your strings when they start to sound dull. This depends on how much you play...it could be every week to every 3 months. If you notice you're having trouble tuning your guitar, it's probably time for strings.

 

[stars]

Just a few basic tips, I'm sure there is many more. Always play along with a metronome or drums to keep timing. Be sure you understand how to properly count 8th notes, 16ths, etc. Learn both rhythm and lead at a slow place and gradually increase the speed. Be patient. Take breaks during your practice sessions so you dont harm your hands - you will have to build up before you can safely play for 4 hours nonstop. Guitar playing has a lot to do with repetition. It also has a lot to do with memory and is similar to working out. Basic knowledge of theory will help you too. Record yourself playing as often as possible - it will help you notice flaws you often overlook and will improve your playing. You could also make a quick daily outline to help seperate the mechanic aspects from the theory and learning new songs and have a list of your current repertoire.

 

[vi edit]

Any links for a good "daily workout routine"? Something I can plug away at for 10-15 minutes a day to help improve the speed of my string and fret recognition?

At first it is kind of overwhelming the number of things to keep straight. Strings, frets, chords, notes, string mutes, slides, bends, hammers, pinches, oh my!

Question - for a beginner, is it a bad thing to start fiddling around with tabs? It keeps it fun when you finally nail a tune that you recognize. They are also a great way for me to build up fret placements. But I'm afraid that it will encourage poor technique when it comes to playing by notes/chords.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Any links for a good "daily workout routine"? Something I can plug away at for 10-15 minutes a day to help improve the speed of my string and fret recognition?

At first it is kind of overwhelming the number of things to keep straight. Strings, frets, chords, notes, string mutes, slides, bends, hammers, pinches, oh my!

Question - for a beginner, is it a bad thing to start fiddling around with tabs? It keeps it fun when you finally nail a tune that you recognize. They are also a great way for me to build up fret placements. But I'm afraid that it will encourage poor technique when it comes to playing by notes/chords.

I think tabs are great, though I have been transcribing tabs for a while, so I'm kinda biased towards them.

 

[vi edit]

Another question - I ended up buying the Epi Les Paul Special (link: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc...ii_electric_guitar?full_sku=100161340)

When I give the "low E" string a good solid pluck, the string really slabs/vibrates hard against the neck. Is that kind of normal, a tuning problem, a string problem, or a user error? Or a little of all of them.

It's the only string I have that problem with.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Another question - I ended up buying the Epi Les Paul Special (link: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc...ii_electric_guitar?full_sku=100161340)

When I give the "low E" string a good solid pluck, the string really slabs/vibrates hard against the neck. Is that kind of normal, a tuning problem, a string problem, or a user error? Or a little of all of them.

It's the only string I have that problem with.

Raise the top screw on the bridge a bit.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: SViper

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.

Any half-decent guitar will do. Take a look at http://www.musiciansfriend.com I got an Epiphone and it has worked well for me. You pretty much choose what looks good to you. There are user reviews on that site as well.

Edit: Fixed text of url.

don't buy what "looks" good. go to an actual store and try them out. different guitars are good for different things or are better at some than others. find one that is comfortable to play and sounds good.

 

[IEC]

Cyberfret.com is what my roommate used to teach himself. I'm going to start again this semester, neglected it for half a year and now my fingertips are soft again...

You really need to get your fingers calloused by playing tons of chords... then you can start playing some actual music