The Guitar

[MishkarinaSkye]

Do you play guitar?
If so, what kind...and my main question....was it difficult to learn?


I've always been drawn to the guitar and even took violin back in elementary school. I always wanted to strum it but the music teacher was adament about the use of the bow... Go figure!??
Anyway, I'm about to get an acoustic guitar to see what comes of it. Maybe I'm the future female counterpart to Dave Matthews? Hmmmmm...


Any advice for someone getting started with the guitar?

 

[InternationalFunboy]

I've been playing guitar seriously as a hobby for about ten years. Before that I plunked around here and there when I got the chance.
Learning for me wasn't difficult at all because I taught myself at my own pace. I was just interested in trying it out so I had no lofty expectations like "I'm going to learn in a year" or "I have to be able to play 'song a' in a week". Pick it up and try it...play it as often as you want to, but don’t make yourself play. If you just don't have the time or you feel as though you'd rather be doing something else maybe the time isn't right and you should wait until you find it again a little farther down the road – this doesn’t mean you are giving up. I started taking lessons at age 11 (I wanted to be able to play the opening theme to the Dukes of Hazzard . I hated those lessons. Practicing sucked balls. I was more interested in being a kid than being a guitar player so I quit and didn't touch a guitar for almost 8-9 years. In that time I learned to read music in school and played the saxophone in junior high and high school band. Eventually I drifted back to the guitar and started teaching myself songs.
One important thing, it's difficult to decide to play. You just have to do it, and to 'just do it' you have to want to do it and love it.

I began by using the discovery method. I made up my own little melodies and occasionally would recognize the bits of a famous lick here and there. Once my dexterity improved I began buying magazines like ‘Guitar World’ and ‘Guitar Player’ for the tablature. Tablature tells you where to put your fingers and how to strum using diagrams and simple notations. It makes learning songs possible without the ability to read music, but you have to have an ear for the song you are trying to play. These mags usually publish popular music mixed in with some oldies and classics. They also have celebrity columns for techniques and ‘how did he do that?’ type of stuff. One of the best and longest running was Dimebag Darrel’s of Pantera – I learned TONS from his column even though I play nothing like him.

I started out trying to learn the stuff I liked......Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. I learned more from the song 'Plush' than I did in months of lessons. After I could pick out songs mostly by ear with the help of tabs, I took a stab at writing my own stuff.

Here's my advice: Spend a little extra on your first guitar. Nothing is more discouraging than a shitty axe. Find the cheapest one and then step up a level or two.
Consider an electric guitar. Small fret boards, low action, and slinky strings make finding and playing chords a lot easier. Not to mention you will be able to make all sorts of funky noises that will hold your interest.
Begin by playing what you like……but be realistic. I cut my teeth on Nirvana because I liked them a lot but it was a lucky break that a lot of their songs are structured simply.
Make a chord chart yourself using all the chords you pick up from magazines or even some that you make up yourself. Actually drawing the strings and the neck of the guitar will help you to visualize how chords fit together. Try mixing them up and making something new.
Play with people who are better than you.
Don't think that you have to do things the way other people do it.

There are 10,0000 baby steps to take. If it’s truly in you to play you’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll improve. Above all, have fun. Contact me if you want to talk about if further; I’m more than willing to help with what I can

 

[Purple Haze]

Find books with chord charts, learn songs that you like, sing them.

Remember that your fingers stop hurting after a while.

Take lessons, you can learn a lot from them.

Chuck Berry's licks are the foundation of rock guitar, go from there.

Guitars are cool looking, enjoy the sound they make.

Sing.

 

[amelia]

There are 10,0000 baby steps to take. If it’s truly in you to play you’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll improve. Above all, have fun. Contact me if you want to talk about if further; I’m more than willing to help with what I can

:sigh:

 

[427cobra]

I've been playing for 12 1/2 years both in bands and for myself and I'm as in love with it today as I was when I picked it up when I was 14. I've got a Les Paul, a gibson double neck (thanks Jimmy Page!), a danelectro double cutaway, a strat, 2 rickenbacker basses, my acoustic guitar got smashed (long story) and I hope to acquire more. Guitars are as much a work of art and artistry as they are musical instrumnts. I never put any of them in their cases because I love to look at them even when not in the mood to play. I got started because I needed a creative outlet and the Beatles made it look pretty easy, little did I know! You're not going to make great strides right away. It takes patience and time. Listening to the right stuff helps too. I went right to the begining in the 50's and worked my way up to the present day. Believe it or not it's not enough! I'm starting to go back ever further and explore blues. Also, go out and get everything Steve Howe from Yes has ever played on. That alone is more guitar schooling than most ever get. PM me if you want to talk guitars more. It's my favorite subject!

 

[ronde]

I agree with funboy. Spend a little more. The better guitar will not develop a case of chronic bowed neck, and the tone will be much superior.

The choice between electric and acoustic will depend on what style music you wish to play, but I would favor an acoustic with metal strings. The fingerboard will be wider and it will be easier to finger the chords without muting or "buzzing" adjacent strings. I would recommend against nylon strings. They will be easier on your fingers, but I don't like the voice. It doesn't take all that long to toughen up your fingers.

 

[MishkarinaSkye]

Thank you so much, ya'll!!! I appreciate all the replies and I will keep you in mind when I get started and need any help or info!!!

xoxo
Mishelle