Learning to play the guitar
Discussion
After a quick bit of advice as to what media people have used to learn the guitar. I can play the piano a little - can't read music fluidly, but I can piece it all together with some practice and then play to the music from there.
I've always fancied the guitar, but never got around to it. Anyway, recently bought a cheap Martin Smith Acoustic to see if I'm prepared to give it the time it needs to become reasonable and then I can go from there with different guitars. Maybe electric too.
I don't have the time to commit to lessons at the moment. I'm currently spending about half an hour a day when the house has gone to bed, practising chords and simple strumming to get my figures in condition.
I'm using David Harrison's Absolute Guitar For Beginners and Guitarhead's Beginner Guitar Exercises. I've printed out various chords and stuck them on a wall where I sit and play. I'm also sifting through The Guitar Academy's online website - although that seems to be trying to sell me a course for a one off fee. (I did find the lecture on posture very useful though)
Musically, I'll never be a professional, however I'd like to confidently play a wide selection of songs and styles.
Aside from getting professional lessons - what other books / online media do people recommend when starting out as an absolute beginner?
(Incidentally, if anyone has experience of the guitar academy course, I'm happy to consider that option. I don't mind paying for stuff - I just don't like wasting cash!)
I've always fancied the guitar, but never got around to it. Anyway, recently bought a cheap Martin Smith Acoustic to see if I'm prepared to give it the time it needs to become reasonable and then I can go from there with different guitars. Maybe electric too.
I don't have the time to commit to lessons at the moment. I'm currently spending about half an hour a day when the house has gone to bed, practising chords and simple strumming to get my figures in condition.
I'm using David Harrison's Absolute Guitar For Beginners and Guitarhead's Beginner Guitar Exercises. I've printed out various chords and stuck them on a wall where I sit and play. I'm also sifting through The Guitar Academy's online website - although that seems to be trying to sell me a course for a one off fee. (I did find the lecture on posture very useful though)
Musically, I'll never be a professional, however I'd like to confidently play a wide selection of songs and styles.
Aside from getting professional lessons - what other books / online media do people recommend when starting out as an absolute beginner?
(Incidentally, if anyone has experience of the guitar academy course, I'm happy to consider that option. I don't mind paying for stuff - I just don't like wasting cash!)
You won't like this, but stick with piano and get good.
Guitar will be a piece of piss when you properly understand harmony...on a guitar you'll just need to spend a few months practicing where to put fingers.
Learning music on guitar is a bad shortcut to understanding music. Piano is a PITA but teaches you everything.
Reading music is neither here nor there (and mostly a huge distraction IMO). Understanding harmony is what you need.
(Been there... started on guitar, and have been a pro musician for 35 years... wish I'd started on piano!)
Of course, if you just want to strum some tunes, youtube is your friend... and others will I'm sure recommend.
Told you that you wouldn't like it!
If you HAVE to ignore my piano rant (which I'm sure you will), then at least learn how to 'barre' chords on a guitar. It'll half the amount of time it take to play a decent Eb!
Guitar will be a piece of piss when you properly understand harmony...on a guitar you'll just need to spend a few months practicing where to put fingers.
Learning music on guitar is a bad shortcut to understanding music. Piano is a PITA but teaches you everything.
Reading music is neither here nor there (and mostly a huge distraction IMO). Understanding harmony is what you need.
(Been there... started on guitar, and have been a pro musician for 35 years... wish I'd started on piano!)
Of course, if you just want to strum some tunes, youtube is your friend... and others will I'm sure recommend.
Told you that you wouldn't like it!
If you HAVE to ignore my piano rant (which I'm sure you will), then at least learn how to 'barre' chords on a guitar. It'll half the amount of time it take to play a decent Eb!
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 23 January 19:38
GetCarter said:
You won't like this, but stick with piano and get good.
Guitar will be a piece of piss when you properly understand harmony...on a guitar you'll just need to spend a few months practicing where to put fingers.
Learning music on guitar is a bad shortcut to understanding music. Piano is a PITA but teaches you everything.
Reading music is neither here nor there (and mostly a huge distraction IMO). Understanding harmony is what you need.
(Been there... started on guitar, and have been a pro musician for 35 years... wish I'd started on piano!)
Of course, if you just want to strum some tunes, youtube is your friend... and others will I'm sure recommend.
Told you that you wouldn't like it!
If you HAVE to ignore my piano rant, then at least learn how to 'barre' chords on a guitar. It'll half the amount of time it take to play a decent Eb!
Interesting and true comments SteveGuitar will be a piece of piss when you properly understand harmony...on a guitar you'll just need to spend a few months practicing where to put fingers.
Learning music on guitar is a bad shortcut to understanding music. Piano is a PITA but teaches you everything.
Reading music is neither here nor there (and mostly a huge distraction IMO). Understanding harmony is what you need.
(Been there... started on guitar, and have been a pro musician for 35 years... wish I'd started on piano!)
Of course, if you just want to strum some tunes, youtube is your friend... and others will I'm sure recommend.
Told you that you wouldn't like it!
If you HAVE to ignore my piano rant, then at least learn how to 'barre' chords on a guitar. It'll half the amount of time it take to play a decent Eb!
I started guitar 18 month ago taking over my sons lessons for a while, Have moved home now and back to self teaching.
Enjoy it but the teacher was using tab and chord diags rather than staves and "dots"
Used to go to piano lessons and of course that was proper musical notes.
Have gone back to practicing piano as well as guitar again.
As a previous poster said "I'll never be professional" in fact if I can play a tune through twice without mistake it's a miracle
Skyedriver said:
Interesting and true comments Steve
I started guitar 18 month ago taking over my sons lessons for a while, Have moved home now and back to self teaching.
Enjoy it but the teacher was using tab and chord diags rather than staves and "dots"
Used to go to piano lessons and of course that was proper musical notes.
Have gone back to practicing piano as well as guitar again.
As a previous poster said "I'll never be professional" in fact if I can play a tune through twice without mistake it's a miracle
Indeed. Apols to the O/P for the next O/T piano bit...I started guitar 18 month ago taking over my sons lessons for a while, Have moved home now and back to self teaching.
Enjoy it but the teacher was using tab and chord diags rather than staves and "dots"
Used to go to piano lessons and of course that was proper musical notes.
Have gone back to practicing piano as well as guitar again.
As a previous poster said "I'll never be professional" in fact if I can play a tune through twice without mistake it's a miracle
My 'go to pianist' sight reading something I wrote last year. b
d! How on earth can a brain do that. I can just about find the bog in the morning. (Easy to write, hard to play).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVm-sECpppU
Okay; back to guitar...
WindyCommon said:
Justin guitar.
Just watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkkOFLouQDsGod I hate this bloke.
I used to teach guitar and IMHO it's exactly NOT the way to teach beginners.
Let me explain.
When I learnt to drive, I was told I had to push the left hand pedal down, and push the lever forward, then push the right pedal down... etc.
This taught me how to move the car about, but taught me nothing about what, why, where, how etc. Not how to be a good driver.
To understand how to be a proper driver you need to understand what the pedals and levers do. You also need to understand some basic physics, right? ... or you'll end up in the bushes on the first corner you take too fast (like most of our young PH folk do).
Teaching how and where to put fingers on a fretboard is fine, it's needed, but it's the least of the matters.
WHY you put them there is most important, and needs to be taught first!
/rant.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 23 January 21:02
All comments appreciated thus far - I may, or may not take them on board of course. But I can't not take note of the voices of experience, clearly.
The piano's a tough one for me as I've essentially been playing, sorry only plinking, around since being a child and although I enjoy it I should be a damn sight better at it than I currently am. That day will come too I guess. For now though, I want something a little different.
I failed the piano (so far) as I was self taught and not nearly committed enough. I'm obviously in danger of making the same mistake with the guitar too, but there's no way my work will allow the luxury of timed lessons. Work / life balance is an easy excuse, although I know that will get better within the next couple of years.
I probably learned the piano in a similar way to the youtube links, in that I knew the notes on the sheet and kept practising until my fingers moved quickly enough. I don't particular mind learning this way, however as Steve said, I do agree it's necessary to learn the 'whys' as well and the 'hows'.
But I can't not take note of the voices of experience, clearly.The piano's a tough one for me as I've essentially been playing, sorry only plinking, around since being a child and although I enjoy it I should be a damn sight better at it than I currently am. That day will come too I guess. For now though, I want something a little different.
I failed the piano (so far) as I was self taught and not nearly committed enough. I'm obviously in danger of making the same mistake with the guitar too, but there's no way my work will allow the luxury of timed lessons. Work / life balance is an easy excuse, although I know that will get better within the next couple of years.
I probably learned the piano in a similar way to the youtube links, in that I knew the notes on the sheet and kept practising until my fingers moved quickly enough. I don't particular mind learning this way, however as Steve said, I do agree it's necessary to learn the 'whys' as well and the 'hows'.
sanguinary said:
After a quick bit of advice as to what media people have used to learn the guitar. I can play the piano a little - can't read music fluidly, but I can piece it all together with some practice and then play to the music from there.
I've always fancied the guitar, but never got around to it. Anyway, recently bought a cheap Martin Smith Acoustic to see if I'm prepared to give it the time it needs to become reasonable and then I can go from there with different guitars. Maybe electric too.
I don't have the time to commit to lessons at the moment. I'm currently spending about half an hour a day when the house has gone to bed, practising chords and simple strumming to get my figures in condition.
I'm using David Harrison's Absolute Guitar For Beginners and Guitarhead's Beginner Guitar Exercises. I've printed out various chords and stuck them on a wall where I sit and play. I'm also sifting through The Guitar Academy's online website - although that seems to be trying to sell me a course for a one off fee. (I did find the lecture on posture very useful though)
Musically, I'll never be a professional, however I'd like to confidently play a wide selection of songs and styles.
Aside from getting professional lessons - what other books / online media do people recommend when starting out as an absolute beginner?
(Incidentally, if anyone has experience of the guitar academy course, I'm happy to consider that option. I don't mind paying for stuff - I just don't like wasting cash!)
If all you want to do is play a wide selection of tunes on the guitar then - as a beginner - I see nothing wrong with "learning by rote" using tabs; that's how I started out 30-odd years ago. All I wanted to do was play chicago blues / Led Zep / Sabbath and such like for my own playing pleasure (so to speak).I've always fancied the guitar, but never got around to it. Anyway, recently bought a cheap Martin Smith Acoustic to see if I'm prepared to give it the time it needs to become reasonable and then I can go from there with different guitars. Maybe electric too.
I don't have the time to commit to lessons at the moment. I'm currently spending about half an hour a day when the house has gone to bed, practising chords and simple strumming to get my figures in condition.
I'm using David Harrison's Absolute Guitar For Beginners and Guitarhead's Beginner Guitar Exercises. I've printed out various chords and stuck them on a wall where I sit and play. I'm also sifting through The Guitar Academy's online website - although that seems to be trying to sell me a course for a one off fee. (I did find the lecture on posture very useful though)
Musically, I'll never be a professional, however I'd like to confidently play a wide selection of songs and styles.
Aside from getting professional lessons - what other books / online media do people recommend when starting out as an absolute beginner?
(Incidentally, if anyone has experience of the guitar academy course, I'm happy to consider that option. I don't mind paying for stuff - I just don't like wasting cash!)
It gets to a stage where you can play all the major and minor chords in either open (i.e. down at frets 1 & 2) or closed (i.e. using barre chords) positions. Do that, and you can pretty much play any popular tune. Similarly with learning single string runs, you'll find that a pentatonic scale can be used for a huge number tunes where there is a guitar solo. It's an easy scale to learn in one position on the fretboard, and easy to expand up and down the neck.
However
As Mr. Carter has alluded to, all the above tells you how not why.
The why stuff can be very interesting indeed, and shouldn't be overlooked by any stretch of the imagination. For example, a simple blues progression in A minor would be Am7 / Dm7 / Em7 / Am7 (simplified). For the guitar solo, one would use an A minor pentatonic landing on the correct notes for each chord change. But, over the Dm7 chord, you could use notes from the C major scale. Sounds daft until you realise that the main notes of a Dm7 chord fit into the C major scale. Which is the same as A natural minor.
Sorry, drifting off topic there
Yeah, starting out using tabs is nothing to worry about just to get the ball rolling. This site has quite a few:-
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/
Edited by cherryowen on Wednesday 23 January 22:51
GetCarter said:
You won't like this, but stick with piano and get good.
This.I'm (was) a good guitarist - I can pick up most things with strings and get a tune out of it.
Our keyboard player, who was superb, could pick up anything and get a tune out of it.
In my eyes, Piano is the 'complete' instrument - get good at it and the rest will fall into place far easier.
A track where I think he did alright - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7j8k8S1VnY
Edited by Mothersruin on Wednesday 23 January 23:41
Lee John Blackmore is a personal friend of mine, and a proud Mk1 MX5 owner.
Give his YouTube channel a follow, he’s got a numpty like me playing quite well.
https://www.youtube.com/user/planetblackmore
Give his YouTube channel a follow, he’s got a numpty like me playing quite well.
https://www.youtube.com/user/planetblackmore
GetCarter said:
WindyCommon said:
Justin guitar.
Just watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkkOFLouQDsGod I hate this bloke.
I used to teach guitar and IMHO it's exactly NOT the way to teach beginners.
Let me explain.
When I learnt to drive, I was told I had to push the left hand pedal down, and push the lever forward, then push the right pedal down... etc.
This taught me how to move the car about, but taught me nothing about what, why, where, how etc. Not how to be a good driver.
To understand how to be a proper driver you need to understand what the pedals and levers do. You also need to understand some basic physics, right? ... or you'll end up in the bushes on the first corner you take too fast (like most of our young PH folk do).
Teaching how and where to put fingers on a fretboard is fine, it's needed, but it's the least of the matters.
WHY you put them there is most important, and needs to be taught first!
/rant.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 23 January 21:02
Justin Guitar: I have two of his books and find them not the easiest to follow, maybe I'm just inattentive. His videos don't get me but the ones by that other American guy name escapes me but he wears a hat and it's "Hi ...." I found easier to follow but it is simply copying his moves to get a tune (or noise).
My ex-guitar teacher as said earlier, wrote down chord sequences and tabs along with (are they called tabs) the run of six strings horizontally with which finger on which fret to get a tune diagrams (like ultimate guitar) which was helpful also to get a tune going but taught you nothing about music. My son used the same technique and got a Merit at Debut level on Rockschool. He's a quicker learner than me, just wish he'd keep going rather than silly video games but I digress.
It was the 1980's I tried piano (piano teacher was well over 70, played organ in the chapel across the road and most of what we did was classical and hymns to which she sang along to)and have an electric piano which I still try and play. I can read music basics (still need to count down on the bass cleff sometimes) but knowing the note and where the sharps and flats are (and even the basic notes) doesn't come easy on a guitar fretboard. I sit there working it out some nights.
I think playing music is something you can either do easily and naturally or you never get it right to be honest. My Dad used to play a little, by ear and i knew a couple of lads at school who could sit at a keyboard for an hour playing boogie without music in front of them. Just wish I could do the same.
Likewise a guy I worked with was an ace on sax and clarinet, could read music but ad lib and jam with any jazz group going.
Now retired, I allegedly have more time to practice so I'll keep abusing the two guitars and keyboard I have and one day Rodney, one day....
When I used to teach, I used to ask if the person could sing: do re me fa so la ti do
If they could do that, I could then explain major and minor triads. I'd then ask them to sing 'do me, so, do'
If they could do that, I promised them that within 30 minutes I could teach them 48 chords on the guitar (every major and minor plus 7 chords).
It all starts by teaching the A maj chord with a barre. Once that's done... take one finger off and you have A minor. Take another off you have Amin 7, put one finger back you have A7. Then just slide it up a fret and you have Bb maj etc, etc ..... rinse and repeat = 48 chords. (okay F and F# are buggers for the first month).
Two or three months an hour a day practicing and you're well on the way to most of the Beatles songbook.... that's when you get them back and show them Maj7, sus etc.
(Sorry to sound like a smart ass - I was never that good a guitar player! I did however play with some FAB guitarists - I wrote this for Eduardo Niebla and Antonio Forcione - check out Antonio's solo at 1:40. Git.)
http://SteveCarter.com/love.mp3
If they could do that, I could then explain major and minor triads. I'd then ask them to sing 'do me, so, do'
If they could do that, I promised them that within 30 minutes I could teach them 48 chords on the guitar (every major and minor plus 7 chords).
It all starts by teaching the A maj chord with a barre. Once that's done... take one finger off and you have A minor. Take another off you have Amin 7, put one finger back you have A7. Then just slide it up a fret and you have Bb maj etc, etc ..... rinse and repeat = 48 chords. (okay F and F# are buggers for the first month).
Two or three months an hour a day practicing and you're well on the way to most of the Beatles songbook.... that's when you get them back and show them Maj7, sus etc.
(Sorry to sound like a smart ass - I was never that good a guitar player! I did however play with some FAB guitarists - I wrote this for Eduardo Niebla and Antonio Forcione - check out Antonio's solo at 1:40. Git.)
http://SteveCarter.com/love.mp3
GetCarter said:
Most people will listen to that or similar and have no idea how hard it is to get to a level where it sounds as easy as that.thebraketester said:
GetCarter said:
Most people will listen to that or similar and have no idea how hard it is to get to a level where it sounds as easy as that...and he's good looking.
(Don't you just hate 'em!)
thebraketester said:
Yes... :-)
Here he is doing his thing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7z84VCgnfc&li...
It all depends what you want to achieve - if you don't want a professional and you just want to play some guitar then crack on with it - if thats what you want to do/inspires you/gives you enjoyment.
I'd a get a teacher to at least to give a couple of lessons on hand position. Then practise changing chords and strumming patterns (ensuring you're strumming down on the beat) play some songs you like, get a slow down app if can't keep up and make sure everything is clean and precise.
Then get the teacher back and look barre chords as mentioned and get the hang moving them about.
Also think about your Right Hand - do you want to just strum or do finger style!
Once you're comfortable moving chords and know all the names get down to some jam nights, join in and play along with other musicians.
Have fun.
I'd a get a teacher to at least to give a couple of lessons on hand position. Then practise changing chords and strumming patterns (ensuring you're strumming down on the beat) play some songs you like, get a slow down app if can't keep up and make sure everything is clean and precise.
Then get the teacher back and look barre chords as mentioned and get the hang moving them about.
Also think about your Right Hand - do you want to just strum or do finger style!
Once you're comfortable moving chords and know all the names get down to some jam nights, join in and play along with other musicians.
Have fun.
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