Learning to play the guitar.
- Thread starter miss giggles
- Start date
souljacker
innit
My opininon is that the quality of the guitar is not super important for your first purchase. You can get a cheap one with a practice amp and a 'learn guitar' book for about £100 from you local music shop and that will get you up and running.
I'd also say that if you get an electric, you can crank up the volume and distortion and immediately sound pretty good. An acoustic wont mask your cock ups as well as a distorted electric sound.
Then, when you've got the bug and can string a few chords together, get something better.
Most important thing is practice practice practice!
I'd also say that if you get an electric, you can crank up the volume and distortion and immediately sound pretty good. An acoustic wont mask your cock ups as well as a distorted electric sound.
Then, when you've got the bug and can string a few chords together, get something better.
Most important thing is practice practice practice!
miss giggles
an unknown quantity...
Aw, thankyou all so much! I'm really inspired by how easy the cords look (though I sense I'm being lulled into a false sense of security), I can't wait to get started!
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
miss giggles said:Aw, thankyou all so much! I'm really inspired by how easy the cords look (though I sense I'm being lulled into a false sense of security), I can't wait to get started!
go for it... some paid tuition wouldn't do you any harm, if you can afford it
i started playing guitar at 13... which is a good age to start because, lets face it, you don't really do much at that age... so there's plenty of time to practice
i was inspired to play by the heavy metal i was listening to at the time - iron maiden
thankfully, it was an phase that i had already passed through by 14
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Play till your fingers bleed and then play some more
Check the previous guitar threads. Loads of links and stuff on them. I'd go accoustic. I started on yamaha f310. Nice narrow neck, low action and good sound for a laminated top. Otherwise spend another 50 sovs and get one with a solid spruce top.
Don't rush into buying one. Leave your purse at home and go out and try as many different ones as you can. When you find one that feels nice and meets your requirements buy it and give it a name.
Better still borrow a guitar from someone who has a spare or unused one.
Check the previous guitar threads. Loads of links and stuff on them. I'd go accoustic. I started on yamaha f310. Nice narrow neck, low action and good sound for a laminated top. Otherwise spend another 50 sovs and get one with a solid spruce top.
Don't rush into buying one. Leave your purse at home and go out and try as many different ones as you can. When you find one that feels nice and meets your requirements buy it and give it a name.
Better still borrow a guitar from someone who has a spare or unused one.
souljacker said:
i completely disagree. the quality of the guitar, ok, is not super-important.. but don't buy a cheap amplifier. if your rig is incapable of making nice sound -- what's gonna motivate you to play it?! it's a major put-off you can really do without!
so i'd suggest acoustic; for these reasons:
1) cheaper in overall price
2) more rewarding sound than a crap electric rig
3) it's all you need to figure out whether or not it's for you
4) acoustics are harder to play (because you have to press down harder)
5) the strings are further apart
6) acoustic is sexy and cool
and several zillion other things too.
i'd also advise getting a cut-away; because as you develop your skills you'll want to play about with frets you can't reach on standard full-bodied acoustics. basically on a full-bodied you get an octave of notes per string to play.. on a cutaway you get an octave and a bit..
the benefit of a full-bodied is better projection of sound. if you go nylon-string then you'll probably want to go for this option.
in my opinion a crap sounding amp is completely worthless.
you say that like it's a bad thing!
listen, if you are masking the sound; then the perfect little intricacies won't show up either..
and you'll get better slowly, because you can't even hear what you're doing..
souljacker
innit
I disagree with most of the above! 
I learnt on a cheap electric with a shitty little practice amp. The whole lot cost me about £80. That was 20 years ago. I learnt a few chords, a few songs, and was addicted. After a few years of this, I bought a Gibson SG second hand and a marshall amp that I still use to this day.
A mate of mine did the same thing. He didnt get the bug like I did, and such was only a few quid down and moved on to a different hobby.
I learnt on a cheap electric with a shitty little practice amp. The whole lot cost me about £80. That was 20 years ago. I learnt a few chords, a few songs, and was addicted. After a few years of this, I bought a Gibson SG second hand and a marshall amp that I still use to this day.
A mate of mine did the same thing. He didnt get the bug like I did, and such was only a few quid down and moved on to a different hobby.
lights.out.london
Black Flag
I guess it's a bit like petroheads; some folk have an old banger as their first car and some folk get given a brand new model by their parents. At the end of the day, having a new Porsche on your 18th doesn't mean you're a better driver or mean you're going to be a better driver because of it.
I'd pay what you can afford and what you're prepared to write-off as a loss if the guitar isn't for you.
As I've mentioned and as have other dudes; you can't go wrong with a new Yamaha, Washburn or Fender or similar - all buyable for <£200 and will give good service for years if loved and cared for.
Get 10 guitar-heads in a room and you'll get 10 opinions.
I'd pay what you can afford and what you're prepared to write-off as a loss if the guitar isn't for you.
As I've mentioned and as have other dudes; you can't go wrong with a new Yamaha, Washburn or Fender or similar - all buyable for <£200 and will give good service for years if loved and cared for.
Get 10 guitar-heads in a room and you'll get 10 opinions.
Yetman
Cheesecar Fucksquad #1
nick1181 said:
Bollocks. It depends on how determined you are to learn. I learnt on a guitar where the strings were about an inch from the fretboard - my left hand became more powerful than that of the mighty he-man and when I finally got a proper guitar it was an absolute doddle to play.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
miss giggles said:Really?
Do you have any tips on what guitar I should start with or good places to buy?
<looks all hopeful>
Get a Gibson flying V
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
For £100ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
I'll have one as well at that price
Miss giggles where are you located?
The Groke
hot hail/Paging Dr. Beat
Looks like I am about 1 week ahead of you Miss Giggles!
I bought my first guitar last week and have started teaching myself as a wee project to keep me occupied in the dull, dull desert.
I bought a steel-string acoustic - Yamaha F380 - and it is perfect for my needs.
made from proper wood (not plywood) and has a real nice resonant tone to it. Great for the money IMHO.
I paid about 120quid (in Dirhams!) for the guitar, soft case, tuner, strings and plectrums.
I can now massacre "Kumbyah"and am working up to "Swing low sweet Chariots and have been playing for 6 days - about 20 minutes a day.
You won't be able to play for more than 20 minutes or so to start with anyway, or all the skin on your fingers will fall off. I have my very first baby guitar-calluses forming already and I am well chuffed.
If you intend to sing and play guitar at the same time, then do both from day one - even if you do sound like a retarded hyena shitting into a bucket to start with - you will find it much easier further down the line when you start to get better.
Good luck - I'll race you if you like: First one to lay down a convincing Bob Dylan track.....now how hard can that be eh.
I bought my first guitar last week and have started teaching myself as a wee project to keep me occupied in the dull, dull desert.
I bought a steel-string acoustic - Yamaha F380 - and it is perfect for my needs.
made from proper wood (not plywood) and has a real nice resonant tone to it. Great for the money IMHO.
I paid about 120quid (in Dirhams!) for the guitar, soft case, tuner, strings and plectrums.
I can now massacre "Kumbyah"and am working up to "Swing low sweet Chariots and have been playing for 6 days - about 20 minutes a day.
You won't be able to play for more than 20 minutes or so to start with anyway, or all the skin on your fingers will fall off. I have my very first baby guitar-calluses forming already and I am well chuffed.
If you intend to sing and play guitar at the same time, then do both from day one - even if you do sound like a retarded hyena shitting into a bucket to start with - you will find it much easier further down the line when you start to get better.
Good luck - I'll race you if you like: First one to lay down a convincing Bob Dylan track.....now how hard can that be eh.
The Groke said:
It's also worth having a pop at some unlikely dance/disco-type classics - they quite often have fucking brilliant songs underneath.
This on an acoustic is fucking excellent. It's a really really good song.
- I didn't realise how good it was until I heard a guy one of my bands do it on an acoustic just messing about. It'll impress the chicks more than Kumbyah as well.
If you google it you should be able to find the chords etc.
Here's a bloke with a beard doing the Outkast song.
lights.out.london
Black Flag
ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
KK Downing, Judas Priest.
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
Learn every major and minor chord. Then the equivalent in bar chords and then at least three inversions for each chord.
Get to grips with at least one scale (this being the blues scale in my case) and learn it fully (this scale can be played in sequence on every fret btw). This will assist in you being able to hear a note before you strum it.
The major problem you face is the fact that your fingers have not been sculptured to play the guitar, you have to work on that and suffer great pain.
You have to develop callouses on the tips of your fingers and that process in particular is very painful. You have to stretch your fingers and learn to use your pinkie.
We haven't even touched on the rhythm hand, which will develop massive blisters before you come to terms with the torture that is learning to play the guitar.
Dedication to master this amazing instrument is your goal and when you achieve that it will have been worth it I can assure you.
Get to grips with at least one scale (this being the blues scale in my case) and learn it fully (this scale can be played in sequence on every fret btw). This will assist in you being able to hear a note before you strum it.
The major problem you face is the fact that your fingers have not been sculptured to play the guitar, you have to work on that and suffer great pain.
You have to develop callouses on the tips of your fingers and that process in particular is very painful. You have to stretch your fingers and learn to use your pinkie.
We haven't even touched on the rhythm hand, which will develop massive blisters before you come to terms with the torture that is learning to play the guitar.
Dedication to master this amazing instrument is your goal and when you achieve that it will have been worth it I can assure you.
ExtremeBogom
New Member
Yeah guitars are excellent man, whether you play 3 chords, 5 notes, or many many of both. Music is power man!
Dhimmi
Half Man Half HobNob
I saw the splendor of the moonlight
On Honolulu Bay
There's something tender in the moonlight
On Honolulu Bay
And all the beaches are filled with peaches
Who bring their ukes along
And in the glimmer of the moonlight
They love to sing this song
If you like Ukulele Lady
Ukulele Lady like a'you
If you like to linger where it's shady
Ukulele Lady linger too
If you kiss Ukulele Lady
While you promise ever to be true
And she sees another Ukulele
Lady foolin' 'round with you
Maybe she'll sigh (an awful lot)
Maybe she'll cry (and maybe not)
Maybe she'll find somebody else
By and by
To sing to when it's cool and shady
Where the tricky wicky wacky woo
If you like Ukulele Lady
Ukulele Lady like a'you
She used to sing to me by moonlight
On Honolulu Bay
Fond memories cling to me by moonlight
Although I'm far away
Some day I'm going, where eyes are glowing
And lips are made to kiss
To see somebody in the moonlight
And hear the song I miss
On Honolulu Bay
There's something tender in the moonlight
On Honolulu Bay
And all the beaches are filled with peaches
Who bring their ukes along
And in the glimmer of the moonlight
They love to sing this song
If you like Ukulele Lady
Ukulele Lady like a'you
If you like to linger where it's shady
Ukulele Lady linger too
If you kiss Ukulele Lady
While you promise ever to be true
And she sees another Ukulele
Lady foolin' 'round with you
Maybe she'll sigh (an awful lot)
Maybe she'll cry (and maybe not)
Maybe she'll find somebody else
By and by
To sing to when it's cool and shady
Where the tricky wicky wacky woo
If you like Ukulele Lady
Ukulele Lady like a'you
She used to sing to me by moonlight
On Honolulu Bay
Fond memories cling to me by moonlight
Although I'm far away
Some day I'm going, where eyes are glowing
And lips are made to kiss
To see somebody in the moonlight
And hear the song I miss
8ball
World is a fuck
One word of warning starting out.
The F chord.
It's a fucker, especially on an acoustic. You probably won't be able to nail the top two notes without getting a buzz for a couple of years unless you're Geoff Capes.
Don't let it put you off, though, there are lots of easier ways of playing an F chord, my fave being:
-
index first fret
middle second fret
ring third
pinky third
-
I know SOO many people who got turned off playing guitar by that fucking chord!
The F chord.
It's a fucker, especially on an acoustic. You probably won't be able to nail the top two notes without getting a buzz for a couple of years unless you're Geoff Capes.
Don't let it put you off, though, there are lots of easier ways of playing an F chord, my fave being:
-
index first fret
middle second fret
ring third
pinky third
-
I know SOO many people who got turned off playing guitar by that fucking chord!
jiggajagga
Judge_Mental
Going to upset a few folk now.
I've been playing guitars for 45 yrs now. In Bands in the 60.70.80s had an old 1959 Fender Jazzmaster (white), a well made instrument.
I play accoustic and classical now and I make one point...Electic guitar playing is cheating!!
Make a mistake on an electric and with the pedals available today no one need know! In my day all we had was a 'fuzz' box, Wah Wah pedal and later a phase pedal. That was about it!
Try playing 'Cavatina' ( Theme from the Deer Hunter) on a nylon stringed classical guitar with just a mike for amplification, in front of a couple of hundred people. Every 'buzz', missed note, bum note is heard.
THAT is guitar playing folks!
You haven't got to be a musician today to play an electric guitar, you have to be a technician!!!
I've been playing guitars for 45 yrs now. In Bands in the 60.70.80s had an old 1959 Fender Jazzmaster (white), a well made instrument.
I play accoustic and classical now and I make one point...Electic guitar playing is cheating!!
Make a mistake on an electric and with the pedals available today no one need know! In my day all we had was a 'fuzz' box, Wah Wah pedal and later a phase pedal. That was about it!
Try playing 'Cavatina' ( Theme from the Deer Hunter) on a nylon stringed classical guitar with just a mike for amplification, in front of a couple of hundred people. Every 'buzz', missed note, bum note is heard.
THAT is guitar playing folks!
You haven't got to be a musician today to play an electric guitar, you have to be a technician!!!
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
friedaweed said:For £100
I'll have one as well at that price
Miss giggles where are you located?
Then they should save up.
And none of that cheap epiphone rubbish.
I've always wondered - Does guitar playing attract long fingered players, or does playing it constantly stretch them, because you very rarely see a stumpy mitted guitar player?
danny la rouge
Ninja swords for all disabled people
I find that harder than doing the full barre. (Which I didn't find hard to learn). It's different for different people; just do what you find works.nick1181 said:
