Hendrix wannabe?!

[HPotter]

I was bought a guitar over two years ago as a leaving present from my last job and have never actually got around to picking it up - until now!

Just wondering whether i would be better to just get a book with CD to start with (any recommendations gratefully received)or should i just go for the plunge and booked some one-2-one lessons....?

[smiller]

Actually good advice..............which I never followed.

What he said above, and look out for "expert" lessons in the guitar mags as I've always found them useful for stuff like odd tunings / modes / harp harmonics / sweep picking etc. OK, you may never use them day to day, but it all improves technique. I've got a back catalogue of hundreds of mags, all with useful and interesting stuff in them. One favourite is a lesson with Kim Thayil on the alternate tunings used on the album "Superunknown" (try the "My Wave" tuning - EEBBBB - and try not to wince tuning the G string up to a B )

All I'd say is keep practicing, play what you like, and like what you play.

[HPotter]

Thanks alot people. Will start looking in my local paper for tutors then.

Another question though.... i was thinking of getting one of those electronic tuner things - are they any good/ worth the money?

(I love gadgets by the way!)

[Marshy]

HPotter said:

Another question though.... i was thinking of getting one of those electronic tuner things - are they any good/ worth the money?

Best, IMHO, to get a tuning fork for one of the strings (I have one in A) - to get it to concert pitch. Then learn how to tune the other strings to that one.

If you use a tuner, and tune all the strings in isolation using the tuner, chances are that as soon as you play a chord, it'll sound horrible. A tuner gets you very close, but not necessarily dead on.

I'm not saying tuners don't have a place: they do. I just think it's better to get your ear in first, and early.