Learning the guitar

Learning the guitar

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DervVW

Original Poster:

2,223 posts

138 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi - hopefully the right section...

If someone was looking to learn to play the guitar what starter tips would you suggest?
Can you learn a whole lot from youtube these days?
Is sticking little note stickers on the neck a good idea?

Buy something cheap? Or must you spend 100s?

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
DervVW said:
Hi - hopefully the right section...

If someone was looking to learn to play the guitar what starter tips would you suggest?
Can you learn a whole lot from youtube these days?
Is sticking little note stickers on the neck a good idea?

Buy something cheap? Or must you spend 100s?
1. Stick with it. At first, your fingers just will not do what you tell them to. It's very easy to give up at this stage.
2. Yes. So much good material in terms of videos and articles / PDFs online these days.
3. No, I wouldn't bother. I haven't seen anyone do that in about 10 years, you can learn without covering your guitar in stickers, and it will be a little while before your fingers are dextrous enough to worry about things like note positions. Just stick to getting your fingers moving. Once you can play a few little riffs and licks, something that sounds like music, you'll feel spurred on, and that will keep you learning. Then you can start thinking about the other stuff.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
As to which guitar, it's this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Guita...

That's everything you'll need to get started. The Yamaha is by far the best one at this price point.

callmedave

2,686 posts

144 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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There's a few good apps to help too. Get a tuner and a metronome app. Ultimate guitar is a good resource for tabs and chords. Don't be ashamed to learn a crappy pop song to begin with, they generally have the same four chords and a real easy progression. I assume you are right handed?

-Pete-

2,892 posts

175 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Search for justinguitar for some easy online lessons. Do 15 minutes a day, every day (that's the hard bit)

AlleyCat

811 posts

170 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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If you have a PS3/PS4, PC or Xbox you might also want to consider Rocksmith, its fantastic and a great way to learn as I have. all you need is the game, and a guitar that you can plug into it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocksmith-2014-Real-Tone-C...

I also started practising off that too.

Steffan

10,362 posts

227 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
davepoth said:
As to which guitar, it's this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Guita...

That's everything you'll need to get started. The Yamaha is by far the best one at this price point.
Excellent advice. Yamaha do not make poor quality instruments. I do think practice,practice, practice is the essence if learning any instrument. The guitar gurus I have known have invariably practised every day, day after day, year after year. Great instrument the guitar very expressive and easy enough to carry with you. Best of luck to the op ad stck with it. In time it does get easier and there is a huge enjoyment in playing the guitar once you are past the first stumbling blocks.

Martyn-123

652 posts

184 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

What area of Birmingham are you in. ?

I would suggest you go somewhere like PMT Music near the city centre/blues ground and go to the acoustic section and just tell them you are a begnner and ask them to recommend one in your price range, remember they also make a lovely piece of furniture in the corner as well to help justify to your other half.

The most important things i would consider are light gauge strings until your finger tips harden up and a low action (how close the strings are to the fretboard) to make it easier to make clean sounds,

Drop me a message if you meed any more help/info,


Martyn
Sutton Coldfield



Edited by Martyn-123 on Tuesday 10th February 18:38

DervVW

Original Poster:

2,223 posts

138 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
I'm in south Birmingham Martyn.

All - this is great advice, thanks, there are no shortcuts but get a bit of practice in everyday.
I can't seem to get my fingers do what I want, never been all that co-ordinated, any tips, or just keep practicing?

Animal

5,246 posts

267 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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Listen to lots and lots of music!

vournikas

11,682 posts

203 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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Certainly keep practising.

For online tutorials, I agree that JustinGuitar is very good but also search the 'tube for Marty Schwartz and GuitarJamz.com. Chicago Blues was my first "thing" when I started playing about 25 years ago, but even now I'll watch a tutorial by Marty and occasionally get a little tip that makes me go yikeshow have I never noticed that before??!!

A big one (for me) over the last 18 months or so was a lesson that demonstrated how to seamlessly combine major and minor pentatonic scales in one 12 bar solo in the style of BB King.


DervVW

Original Poster:

2,223 posts

138 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
vournikas said:
Certainly keep practising.

For online tutorials, I agree that JustinGuitar is very good but also search the 'tube for Marty Schwartz and GuitarJamz.com. Chicago Blues was my first "thing" when I started playing about 25 years ago, but even now I'll watch a tutorial by Marty and occasionally get a little tip that makes me go yikeshow have I never noticed that before??!!

A big one (for me) over the last 18 months or so was a lesson that demonstrated how to seamlessly combine major and minor pentatonic scales in one 12 bar solo in the style of BB King.
All youtube guys?
Ill have a butchers

callmedave

2,686 posts

144 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
vournikas said:
Certainly keep practising.

For online tutorials, I agree that JustinGuitar is very good but also search the 'tube for Marty Schwartz and GuitarJamz.com. Chicago Blues was my first "thing" when I started playing about 25 years ago, but even now I'll watch a tutorial by Marty and occasionally get a little tip that makes me go yikeshow have I never noticed that before??!!

A big one (for me) over the last 18 months or so was a lesson that demonstrated how to seamlessly combine major and minor pentatonic scales in one 12 bar solo in the style of BB King.
"Whaaaats up guys, I'm Marty schwartz'

I learnt more from him than any other source. Awesome tutor!

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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Do you have to learn on a acoustic ? Or can you get a electric to start ?

The only reason I ask is I have a young family and would only practice at night and electrics not plugged in are pretty quiet.

vournikas

11,682 posts

203 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
quotequote all
Personally, I don't think you have to start out on acoustic. What it does do is - due to string tensions and fret / string spacings - give your fretting hand a good initial workout, and getting your fingertips hardened to pressing down on the strings.

I started out using nylon strung acoustic (because my step-brother was an incredible talent playing Spanish classical, and he was the guy who taught me initially), but once I bought my first electric I never looked back.


AlleyCat

811 posts

170 months

Friday 13th February 2015
quotequote all
theshrew said:
Do you have to learn on a acoustic ? Or can you get a electric to start ?

The only reason I ask is I have a young family and would only practice at night and electrics not plugged in are pretty quiet.
I started on an electric, still on one smile

Martyn-123

652 posts

184 months

Friday 13th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

Would always recommend acoustic as you will learn fingerstyle as well as strumming and i think learners get quite frustrated quite easily trying to imitate the sound of their hero's on a electric and not being able to play solo's.

Martyn....

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Friday 13th February 2015
quotequote all
theshrew said:
Do you have to learn on a acoustic ? Or can you get a electric to start ?

The only reason I ask is I have a young family and would only practice at night and electrics not plugged in are pretty quiet.
Old-fashioned advice dictates you must start on an acoustic because you "fingers will get stronger faster" etc, but in truth just start on whatever you want. Electrics are less demanding on the hands than acoustics as the strings are thinner and under less tension, whichever you play, it should not take long to develop your strength and get calluses to stop your fingertips hurting when you play.

Personally, I'd say just get whatever you want - if you want to play electric in the long run then get an electric. With regards to practicing, I tend to feel the urge to play in the evening, when a cranked up tube amp is just going to irritate everyone. I often find myself getting the guitar out after 1AM on the weekends.

Something like one of these is ideal:



Loads of amp "modellers" (basically digital copies of famous amps) and effects built in, plug some headphones in and wail away to your hearts content right through the evening.

Johnspex

4,330 posts

183 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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AlleyCat said:
If you have a PS3/PS4, PC or Xbox you might also want to consider Rocksmith, its fantastic and a great way to learn as I have. all you need is the game, and a guitar that you can plug into it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocksmith-2014-Real-Tone-C...

I also started practising off that too.
Hiya, I've just bought Riocksmith but I can't get either of my guitars to calibrate. I don't suppose yopu've got any tips have you please?

Steffan

10,362 posts

227 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
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I do wish the OP well with his quest. I was fortunate to be the son of the Manse in a household where you had to learn a musical instrument and go to University. It fundamentally arranged my life. I started with the Piano, went onto the church organ, and then found the love of my life, the Guitar.

Wonderful instrument and easily transported. Carrying a piano about strikes me as damned hard work. Best of luck to the OP and practice, practice, practice every day is undoubtedly the best way to learn and improve. Some excellent software about as suggested by others, but Practice, Practice, Practice is the real answer I think. Good Luck!