FAO : Anybody that plays Guitar

[Mike20]

Hey, Im just curious, I'm really keen to learn guitar, i have bought an acoustic one, its just a starter one for now but I can put in around an hour a day in to it at the moment (i already produce music 13 hours day so this would be on top of that)

Does anybody know any good resources to learn?

And any hints/ tips to practise to learn quicker would be much appreciated!

I have bought an acoustic - i want to learn acoustic and electric, is it true that if i learn acoustic first electric will be a lot easier?

Thank you!

Mike

[tehlord]

Justin Guitar


Legend.

[angelinni]

There're similar, so if you learn acoustic, some of the basics will work for electric, and viceversa. But they are different enough so you have to learn a few different tricks.
A couple of questions: Which style? classic is fingerstyle, pop, folk, whatever usually needs pickup. You may mix both and do some interesting stuff.
You want to learn to read music or a tab with finger position is ok for you?
Which kind of learner you are? videos fits better, or book + audio?

Anyway, check lick library. There's videos with classical and acoustic techniques
On you tube there's lot of videos with examples and techniques, just search by learn guitar or related
There's books plus cd from hal leonard, and other sources. I think there's a book from Danny Hill, and it's good for starting

Practice as much as you can, but most of all, have fun. Best of luck!

[RunBeerRun]

A guitar is easy to play when it has low action and a thin neck, whether it's an acoustic or an electric.

[Mike20]

There're similar, so if you learn acoustic, some of the basics will work for electric, and viceversa. But they are different enough so you have to learn a few different tricks.
A couple of questions: Which style? classic is fingerstyle, pop, folk, whatever usually needs pickup. You may mix both and do some interesting stuff.
You want to learn to read music or a tab with finger position is ok for you?
Which kind of learner you are? videos fits better, or book + audio?

Anyway, check lick library. There's videos with classical and acoustic techniques
On you tube there's lot of videos with examples and techniques, just search by learn guitar or related
There's books plus cd from hal leonard, and other sources. I think there's a book from Danny Hill, and it's good for starting

Practice as much as you can, but most of all, have fun. Best of luck!

Firsly - thanks everyone for the replies so far!

And i want to learn general guitar, just how to play it really, i produce electronic music, kind of going for this sort of sound -

I know that doesn't really have guitar in it, maybe some electric pieces that are probably synthesised, but i feel that learning an instrument like guitar will help me broaden my creative mind and its something i have wanted to learn anyway, here is another example but slightly different :

I can do either, i like to start with a book, then move on to video, but it doesn't really matter i can adapt to both really.. do you know of any great starter books?

Cheers!!

Mike

[tehlord]

It's the electric guitar you want to play tbh.

[michael2]

all good tips mentioned above. for developing my ear I found it really helpful to learn other peoples songs when I first started. I would listen to the song and try to figure it out. learned my way around the neck, and really was able to hear the differences in chord inversions. it has helped a lot. not to toot my own horn, but I have a really good ear now. made it easier to pick up other instruments and easier to sing.

of course if you have already developed your ear, then you can ignore my advice completely.

have fun, guitar is a really fun instrument. a little real guitar in a track really gives it some nice depth and a rhythmic edge I think.

[ghettosynth]

...

[cimoc]

In my opinion it's a lot easier to move from acoustic to electric than vice versa. So, it makes sense to start with the acoustic, unless you are certain that you care only for the electric.

[mcnoone]

Don't know if it was mentioned, but try to have a good music accompaniment setup, for practicing. You know, like Band in a Box type software.
I use to sequence parts on my D20 and practice soloing over that, which helped a lot. Easiest to learn first is some blues scales, and progressions.
Also there's a lot of guitar study software out there now, so one of those would help. Like the ones that show chord charts, and scales.
I started young, but I was lazy with it, and never did it much after getting a synth. Like the others said. It's probably best to get an electric first with low action, and thin neck. Best to try a lot of em out first before buying.
Good luck.

[ghettosynth]

...

[strangedogs]

I agree - learn on acoustic - then electric comes easy. Learning only electric is the lazy man's approach.

[Nanakai]

I agree - learn on acoustic - then electric comes easy. Learning only electric is the lazy man's approach.

I don't think the differences are really there. My old teacher used really high gauge strings with a high action - much harder for me to play than my Seagull acoustic with lower action and lighter strings.

"Learning acoustic" and "learning electric" never made sense to me, even as a kid. I learned to play the guitar and then picked up the nuances of each guitar I play. Not just acoustic vs electric, but hollow bodies, solid bodies, humbuckers, tube amps, wah pedals, term bars... there are so many ways a guitar can vary, and each brings new lessons.

OP - it doesn't matter. Play what you like on whatever you like. I suggest starting with light gauge strings and doing hand exercises at first. It's easier on your hands. Make sure to exercise in general, too. Your tendons need lots of blood to grow strong.

[ErikH]

So if you want to learn organ, yopu need to learn piano first?

Don't thinks so. Acoustic is similar but far from identical. Tuned the six strings the same way and they play the same, just like the keys on organ and piano. If you want to learn electric, then do so. It becomes tricky when and only when you start adding lots of effects to make it sound great but fail ohn basic playing. Yet an electric guitar without any effects at all ( a tiny bit of reverb) can sounds discourageing.
Acoustic does have advantages as you need no amplification or anything. And it can be easier for composition.

YouTube hosts a lot on good guitar "lessons" .

Three last hints (from me):

- learn tuning by hearing, thn evt. correct with a tuner

http://www.ehow.com/video_4465507_manua ... uitar.html

-stick with classic tuning ( EADGBE ) untill you're very well used to it. But when you do, try something else.
- even for cheaper acoustic instruments: get good strings. Like d'Addario Phosfors. For beginner's fingers, I suggest a light version of the Phosphor version. It plays lighter (you can change to normal later on, when your fingers are more used to the strings) and the phosfors play loud, clear and sound massive. That's good for the budding self-confidence.

[Dean Aka Nekro]

Regarding quality electrics and also acoustics at prices that are great and playing wise/specs unreal, I would of killed for something even close to this when I started playing, To be honest I do not know how they are even turning much of a profit on this model:

Charvel Desolation Series DS-2 St in Flat Black, Goes for £233
You get a set mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, nice big ass frets,
A compound radius board! Plays great straight of the shelf/out the box
frackin' incredible VFM.

If you would prefer a floyd equipped type then Schecter's Demon FR model
is great for just around the same price, Different look/specs but you
get an pair of duncan designed active humbuckers in the Demon FR (So pretty much a Seymour Duncan standard Blackout humbucker with small differences)

I have alot of guitars and many have cost or should have cost up to 10 to 15 times the price but I bought a Schecter Demon FR as it played so good and the pickups were decent for such a low price. If the afforementioned Charvel had a Floyd model then I would of had one already

Same with acoustics for quality and great VFM. Never been a better time to get into guitar and unlike the nasty shite which many others before Me and after Me learned on that pain has been taken away

I do not have any specific books, CDs or DVDs to recommend but it is practice, patience and perseverence that are the key elements to anything. Aslong as you put the time in, an hour and a half a day is good. I'm sure you will do well

All the best

Dean