Learning to play the guitar?
Discussion
Is it ‘easy’ to learn the guitar (relatively speaking)?
Thinking about buying a beginners acoustic kit from somewhere (Amazon?) and looking at some YouTube tuition, to pass the lockdown time.
I have no previous musical experience, unless you count a year or so of recorder lessons more than 40 years ago.
Am I mad?
Thinking about buying a beginners acoustic kit from somewhere (Amazon?) and looking at some YouTube tuition, to pass the lockdown time.
I have no previous musical experience, unless you count a year or so of recorder lessons more than 40 years ago.
Am I mad?
CypSIdders said:
If it was easy we'd all be rock stars!
Joking aside, it depends what you want to achieve, if you can learn to string 3 or 4 chords together, you can strum and sing along to literally thousands of songs. Learn some scales and you can noodle along to most tunes.
Is it easy? Learning the chord shapes is not difficult, moving seamlessly from one chord to another is the difficult part when you're a beginner.
IMO, there is nothing at all natural about playing a guitar, your fingers will hurt and your wrist will ache.
As long as you're not tone deaf and you can tell when you're playing the wrong notes, it's not that difficult, and no you're not mad!
If on the other you are tone deaf, or simply not musical, forget it. I've seen people like this, they had lessons for years and still couldn't hold a tune, to save their lives!
I’d just like to be able to play a few songs and for people to be able to recognise them.Joking aside, it depends what you want to achieve, if you can learn to string 3 or 4 chords together, you can strum and sing along to literally thousands of songs. Learn some scales and you can noodle along to most tunes.
Is it easy? Learning the chord shapes is not difficult, moving seamlessly from one chord to another is the difficult part when you're a beginner.
IMO, there is nothing at all natural about playing a guitar, your fingers will hurt and your wrist will ache.
As long as you're not tone deaf and you can tell when you're playing the wrong notes, it's not that difficult, and no you're not mad!
If on the other you are tone deaf, or simply not musical, forget it. I've seen people like this, they had lessons for years and still couldn't hold a tune, to save their lives!
I’m not sure I would say I was musical but I can generally tell when someone plays a duff note.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I’ll take a look at that, thanks. What is a reasonable amount to spend on a basic acoustic? Saw this little lot on Amazon for £100 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stretton-Payne-Dreadnough...
cherryowen said:
May I ask what sort of tunes you want to play?
The reason is that some (for example) Pink Floyd tunes sound complex but are easy enough to play. The verse to Comfortably Numb is just B minor / A / G / E minor. The Beatles "Something" or "Norwegian Wood" are quite more involved altogether.
As for a guitar? At the budget end, try a Yamaha.
As for an online tutor? www.justinguitar.com is your go-to as a beginner.
Apologies - thought I had replied to this. I’m not looking to play anything particularly complicated - just some popular tunes from the last few years that (most) people would say “Oh yes, that’s such & such by whoever”The reason is that some (for example) Pink Floyd tunes sound complex but are easy enough to play. The verse to Comfortably Numb is just B minor / A / G / E minor. The Beatles "Something" or "Norwegian Wood" are quite more involved altogether.
As for a guitar? At the budget end, try a Yamaha.
As for an online tutor? www.justinguitar.com is your go-to as a beginner.
Kind of leaning towards a Yamaha if I do end up getting one - possibly an F310 or F370
bonerp said:
I tried on my daughters largely unused guitar and decided after an hour that my fingers are too thick, uncontrollable and inflexible!
This is what worries me - I could shell out and buy one, then decide after a day that I’m a hopeless case and guitar playing isn’t for me! Can you rent them by the week?!?
Well, I woke up early today and was idly browsing whilst having my morning cuppa - thought I’d have another look at justinguitar - watched a few of the beginner lessons and then accidentally ordered a Yamaha F310 for delivery on Tuesday (hopefully). Also ordered some .38 picks at the same time - not sure I’ll use them initially but I figured it would be better to have them that not.
Guitar comes with a 2 year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee - I’ve paid an extra £7 to extend that to 6 years and 180 days
Guitar comes with a 2 year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee - I’ve paid an extra £7 to extend that to 6 years and 180 days
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