Anyone play guitar?

[darkhorse70]

Just wondering if any one is good at playing guitar. I recently started taking lessons. I'm maybe 2 months in (8 lessons). My instructor is very passionate about music. I think his studying his masters in music. Not sure but was curious as how you actually play a song.

I know how to read notes up to the third fret and know some chords. But when I look up songs on the net, it just says chord patters but does not say any strumming patterns. So its very confusing. My instructor is still teaching me the basics. Hence I haven't started playing any real songs and im kind of impatient. I want to play some rock songs already loll.

 

[barney]

Just wondering if any one is good at playing guitar. I recently started taking lessons. I'm maybe 2 months in (8 lessons). My instructor is very passionate about music. I think his studying his masters in music. Not sure but was curious as how you actually play a song.

I know how to read notes up to the third fret and know some chords. But when I look up songs on the net, it just says chord patters but does not say any strumming patterns. So its very confusing. My instructor is still teaching me the basics. Hence I haven't started playing any real songs and im kind of impatient. I want to play some rock songs already loll.

Been playing for 45 years ...and I'm a damn site better guitarist than I am a trader let me give you the drum(pun intended)

M8, the resources on the net are almost endless (Youtube will keep you busy for a few years!). You are at that terrible age where you probably want to be a rock God overnight:

Start with the simple stuff and work your way into it ... you will learn something new everyday for the rest of your life, but like anything you need to do some groundwork and go through a bit of grind and boredom before you will improve.

One of my favorite players is Paul Gilbert ... check him out

 

[Craton]

Yeah, bit of life long muso here, still gigging, guitar/bass.

Music is all about timing so learning to "keep good time" (2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and so on) is hell important. Try to learn to play by ear too. With all the YouTube and stuff on the interwebz, should be a breeze to find strumming patterns or better still, load up and play along with ya fav tune.

Check out: http://www.essential-music-theory.com/rhythm-tree.html to learn more about time values. Oh, and you can get free Apps that have a Metronome built in too.

Practice, practice, practice WITHOUT looking at the fret board, learn that finger board like the back of your hand.

Strumming, down on the one count, up on the two count, down on the three count and up on the four count.

Wanna pump the quavers, all down strokes eight to the bar.

All the best with it as it sure is a lot of fun.

 

[darkhorse70]

Haha barney maybe not a rock god but I would still like to seduce woman with my guitar skills one day loll. Ill check out paul gilbert now.

Craton, I agree with timing. I use my foot but my instructor is getting me a metronome. The problem I have is youtube doesnt tell you about timing and so many videos chuck in their own twist.

Also I get confused with the strumming. It doesnt tell you the strumming pattern etc. Hopefully I can play a metallica song. I want to get an electric guitar asap.

By the way craton, where do you ride? Nice dp haha

 

[Logique]

It takes years darkhorse, wish I could say otherwise.

If you're impatient, look up the web on how to tune your guitar to to open G or C#. Then add a metal or glass bottleneck. Bit of gain on the amp.

Careers have been built on less!

If you can afford it, a good effects stomp board from your local muso shop.

 

[darkhorse70]

Thanks logique. Money is not the issue. I just thought I should get good at accoustic before moving onto electric.

Im patient if I can actually start playing ONE song. At the moment its random notes and stuff. Sooooo boring.

Barney I just listened to Paul Gilbert. He had sick skills. You should see my instructor. He's crazy at flamenco.

 

[luutzu]

Thanks logique. Money is not the issue. I just thought I should get good at accoustic before moving onto electric.

Im patient if I can actually start playing ONE song. At the moment its random notes and stuff. Sooooo boring.

Barney I just listened to Paul Gilbert. He had sick skills. You should see my instructor. He's crazy at flamenco.

I had a crack at it a long time ago, didn't go anywhere with it so take my advice as maybe not what to do.

Spend a couple of hours on basics of how to read the music notes, then in addition to what formal stuff you have to learn, spend time just start playing your favourite song... Note by note, as far as you can.

To just learn theory and methods will be very boring and you'll just give up after a while. Playing a proper song force you to apply what you just learn as well as skip ahead a bit... make it more interesting.


There's software out there you can download that takes you step by step.

 

[Craton]

Craton, I agree with timing. I use my foot but my instructor is getting me a metronome. The problem I have is youtube doesnt tell you about timing and so many videos chuck in their own twist.

Also I get confused with the strumming. It doesnt tell you the strumming pattern etc. Hopefully I can play a metallica song. I want to get an electric guitar asap.

By the way craton, where do you ride? Nice dp haha

By YouTube I mean that I can listen not so much see the song. I use my ear to find the key and work out the chords, notes from there.

Strumming, hmmm, listen to the rhythm, imitate what you hear, takes time though to get the hands to do what the mind wants and ear hears. Practice, practice, practice till your fingers bleed. Seriously.

Riding. I ride Long Distance all over this land. Check out http://www.ironbutt.com, http://www.farriders.com and http://www.distanceridersaustralia.org

 

[darkhorse70]

Thanks luutzu, thats the plan. You just want to get to that stage where you can enjoy the music you play.

Craton, ive got a long way to go but atleast my wrist doesnt get sore anymore. By the way I thought you would ride enduro or moto cross.

 

[Craton]

Craton, ive got a long way to go but atleast my wrist doesnt get sore anymore. By the way I thought you would ride enduro or moto cross.

Guitar is an unforgiving instrument but worth every bit of the blood, sweat and tears. Much like riding.

Ha ha, yeah in my younger day, road bikes were for racing so chook chasing was the norm but I've had enough of crunching on dirt and fillin' in me mates, oh and chains. Now, I ride a Kwaka 1400GTR shaftie, mostly LD and 2up and am so enjoying burning up the tar.

 

[darkhorse70]

Haha craton. I had a supermoto but I realized everything I wanted to do on a bike was easier on dirt. My 16 year old brother just got his first bike and I convinced my mate to get one so now we try to go tracks every week or two.

But as you said bikes get funner as you get better just like guitars.

 

[Faramir]

I read music fine on the violin (& piano) but on guitar, I tend to be lazy and just read tabs.

Practice a bit each day and your wrist and fingers will get stronger and more flexible. Start off with simple open chords and individual notes.

I haven't played the violin for over 22 years. I played violin whilst I was a child and teenager. It made picking up the guitar abit easier. Concentrate on the 'boring' stuff like scales, tuning and timing especially (my biggest letdown).

It is easy to become too impatient and just concentrate on songs you like. Learn the basics like music theory first. I skipped the basics and played a price for it. (I jumped into Metallica and other metal songs ASAP - no wonder I made little progress.)

When you have made enough progress, you will be able to play along with the CD player (or iPod nowadays?). Many others may suggest backing tracks but playing along with the original songs worked just fine for me. I started listening to the drums and bass when I was playing with the CD player. It made me appreciate how talented drummers are.

I also stopped playing guitar about 6 or 7 years ago. I pick it up every now and then but I rarely find time - only during holidays. Mainly my acoustic guitar. Can't remember the last time I opened up my electric guitar case and turn on my amp. The simple songs like Seek and Destroy and Four Horsemen seem so much harder to play now.

Good luck with your new found interest. It is a whole new world and you will find yourself buying bits and pieces constantly. Visit guitar shops and just sit there and play a few guitars. Don't be a show off. (Watch Wayne's World - no 'Stairway to Heaven' is so '80s.) After a while you will get a feel of which guitar suits you.

Ironically, I brought my motorbike about 8 years - Honda Spada. Had no money or desire to upgrade. My Spada is doing just fine. I do not want to say that the motorbike replaced my guitar as my hobby because it is not true. I will pick up the guitar soon.

 

[Faramir]

but I would still like to seduce woman with my guitar skills one day loll.

Ha Ha - that is so '80s. Girls aren't into guitar gods nowadays.

Hopefully I can play a metallica song. I want to get an electric guitar asap.

You definitely won't seduce a woman now - not unless you practice your death metal singing lol. Burton C Bell from Fear Factory is my fav vocalist. I saw them the first time they came to Australia.
Play 'One', at least the intro part. Actually, play other songs before you progress to Metallica. Sad as this sounds, you may have to play pop songs My first song was either Crowded House something so strong, or Stairway to Heaven or a Supertramp song (give a little bit??) I honestly cannot remember. Classical Guitar is more interesting than pop.

Pick your guitar and amp carefully. Get advice but also get what suits your hand. Just because Metallica mainly play ESP Guitars, it does not mean ESP are the best guitars for you.

Have fun. Enjoy the music and forget about what others think, don't waste time trying to impress someone else.

 

[darkhorse70]

Thanks for the feedback Faramir. My aunty im america is a music teacher. Her kids (my cousins) one is a guitarist and the other a drummer. They are VERY good from what ive heard.

Haha seducing woman wouod be a plus but once youve heard a music come out of a reap guitar, listening to it off the radio/internet etc has no comparison.

Haha I hate that pop stuff. I was trying to play metallica nuthing else matters, was to hard. I tried to play some other songs but atleast ive learnt some chords. Im nearly finished my basic lessons so hopefully my tutor starts teaching me some real songs.

Do any wheelies on your spada? Haha

 

[burglar]

... metallica nuthing else matters, ...

Change to cello and try to match these dudes!! :

 

[darkhorse70]

Thats sick burglar.haha at the head banging during the solo.

 

[Faramir]

Haha I hate that pop stuff. I was trying to play metallica nuthing else matters, was to hard. I tried to play some other songs but atleast ive learnt some chords. Im nearly finished my basic lessons so hopefully my tutor starts teaching me some real songs.

Don't worry about songs. Pop songs only have 2-3 chords. Practice exercises that are given to you. Get the foundation first. Learn easy parts of songs if you must learn a song. Then you can learn the rest of the song later when your playing improves.

Do any wheelies on your spada? Haha

I don't do wheelies.

 

[johenmo]

Hey Darkhorse. I've played a bit of bass & guitar over the decades. Never had a lesson but I know I'd be better if I had. Some comments:
- the above posts all have good advice.
- practice every day - even 15 minutes. Daily practice is a major help.
- don't give up.
- play with others if you can.
- get your teacher to include a couple of favourite songs in the teaching. Builds interest.
- practice every day.
- don't give up. I took a chunk out of my left little finger 6 months ago ended up with 10mm. Now have 3 fingers on my fretboard hand. Everyone asked if I was giving up. I said Nope. I am now learning lap slide & loving it. It also prompted me to use alternative tunings. Ask Mr Google about these. I like open D and open Dm - you get some funky sounding chords.
- If you wanna solo etc, learn scales & modes, the notes on the fretboard. Opens up all sorts of playing improvements.
- for bass check out Jaco Pastprius, John Entwistle & lots of others.
- re buying a guitar: you need to find one that feels right & hangs right.
- you'll struggle for a while then suddenly make a quantum leap to the next level. I've seen in others that I have taught.
- As for strumming, you need to feel the beat & style of the song.

On a negative note I know some people who tried guitar & could't get it but swapped instruments (e.g. one went to Sax) & play very well.

Good luck

 

[CanOz]

Hey Darkhorse. I've played a bit of bass & guitar over the decades.

Hmmm looks like a bottle of red and some tunes next stop in B'rat!

 

[SmokeyGhost]

Wondered if there was a thread on this subject.

A picture of my herd.

From left to right; Gretsch G5135, Squire Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster, Gibson Les Paul Studio Pro 2014, Martin GPCPA4, Maton A/E, Seagull S6 Original QI. Not shown is a Crafter Lite CE CD/N (nylon string) A/E.

Only two amps. A Yamaha THR10C and Yamaha THR5A. They do what I need.