| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:26 PM |
Anybody play guitar?
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ToucherinSparks
Posts: 6,683
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I've decided to learn guitar, and I could use some pointers. I've bought two, an electric and an accoustic, and a DVD called "Guitar for Dummies", but I'm having finger problems.
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:29 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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definitelydi
Posts: 12,602
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Finger problems? I won't touch that with a ten foot pole. 
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:31 PM |
Anybody play guitar?
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violette1967
Posts: 402
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Make sure you cut your nails really short. It will hurt your fingertips for the first two weeks, you have to develop calluses.
Practice on the acoustic, as the strings are not as "ribbed" as on the electric.
Keep practicing, speed and finger agility comes with time!
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:32 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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eastham
Posts: 5,963
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My nephew has taught himself to play both acoustic and electric guitar. Guess you have to build up the calluses on your fingers!!!
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:41 PM |
Anybody play guitar?
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Loreli
Posts: 19,231
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I have played acoustic, never electric.
It can be great fun and very rewarding
Suggestion-contact a local music store and ask about lessons...a few could teach you alot
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:43 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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wandaful123
Posts: 1,507
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Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!
I found in the beginning when learning new chords... if after you get your fingers in place you pull them off and and roll your fingers one at at a time kind of like a wave and then re-chord again a few times it helps your fingers develop a memory. Souhds wierd but works! Stretching your fingers back, reasonably, before playing and part way through also helps.
Just keep plugging away and have fun, the rewards are great! Expect the buzzing sounds and the terrible noises you may hear in the beginning and accept them as a part of the process!
Good luck and most importantly enjoy the journey!
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 10:50 PM |
Anybody play guitar?
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TRS1958
Posts: 481
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I have played music for a living for 30 years. Play both acousic and electric among other things. Electric guitars are much easier on your fingers than acoustic when you are first starting out unless it is a classical guitar with gut or plastic strings. One thing is to not play for too long at a time. When the tips of your fingers start to get sore stop for a while or you will end up with blisters. It takes a little while to build up calluses, I'm not sure two weeks will do it but will probably give you a good start.
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| Dec 28, 2006 @ 11:10 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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1cebit2iceshy
Posts: 152
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Hey Touch, I know a little.. You buyin the beer?
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| Dec 29, 2006 @ 2:28 AM |
Anybody play guitar?
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ToucherinSparks
Posts: 6,683
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Wow, lots of replies, I didn't expect that. But anyway, sore fingers isn't the problem. Big fingers is. When I chord, I'm having trouble with two things, first is fitting my fingers inside the fret, particularly on the A chord. The other thing is I'm touching the other strings, for example, when I do an E chord, the finger that's on the 5 string will also touch the side of the 6 string so that it dulls the sound. Any suggestions?
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| Dec 29, 2006 @ 4:55 AM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 10,897
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My first thought was to try a classical guitar....the strings are a bit further apart. And with the nylon and/or plastic strings, it's easier on the fingers as well.
But practice and you'll get it. Your fingers will magically figure out where to go to get the sound you're wanting. And with more practice, they'll remember and one day you won't be able to figure out why it seems so difficult today.
In the meantime, simply enjoy.
Don't fret about it.....(okay, I'm already REAL sorry I said that! LOL)
Best of luck to you....
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| Dec 29, 2006 @ 11:00 AM |
Anybody play guitar?
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definitelydi
Posts: 12,602
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Jesters new screen name: PunMaster 
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| Dec 29, 2006 @ 11:46 AM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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Optimistic66
Posts: 190
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I play some rythem guitar. A Fender Strat or Fender Telecaster is an exellent guitar to learn on. Gibson SG is also nice. But don't spend alot on these types of guitars unless your serious about learning. Just practice single string notes and chord progression as much as you can. At least an hour a day. It was kind of easy for me to learn. I learned on my own, but I've been playing piano and synthesizers for about 15 years so guitar was just another string instrument and alot is the same. Just keep practicing until your fingers feel like their going to fall off.
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| Dec 30, 2006 @ 4:52 AM |
Anybody play guitar?
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 10,897
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but I've been playing piano and synthesizers for about 15 years so guitar was just another string instrument and alot is the same I know what you mean. I've been playing the piano for about 45 years, and the guitar for about 40....and I tend to view the piano as simply.....an 88-string guitar! 
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| Jan 18, 2007 @ 12:19 AM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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Secure699
Posts: 5
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Thats part of the learning to play . Try to get as much curl in your fingers as possible, so you are almost playing with your finger tips. Rest your thumb flat on the neck. Lastly IF it doest fit change it. For an A for example you have to have three strings down. Which fingers push them doesnt really matter, perhaps much later down the road it might but, for now, try for good tone and working from 1 chord to another smoothly 
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| Jan 18, 2007 @ 12:23 AM |
Anybody play guitar?
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robodad
Posts: 5,575
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I've decided to learn guitar, and I could use some pointers. I've bought two, an electric and an accoustic, and a DVD called "Guitar for Dummies", but I'm having finger problems. I've never heard of an accoustic pointer 
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| Jan 18, 2007 @ 8:21 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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MusicMonster
Posts: 2,960
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All good advice.. 
Sometimes you even have to make your chords a little different than other people do, if that works better for your hands and fingers. Things like switching fingers to cover certain strings for various chords is not terribly uncommon if your hands and finger size are the problem.
Just find what works best for you and use it, stick with it and perfect it. Everybody plays a little different. If you can't get your fingers to cover only one string at a time, then the idea about a classical guitar is a good one, with wider separation of the strings.
Won't be too long you'll be turning out heavenly tunes..  Just practice a lot.
-MM 
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| Jan 18, 2007 @ 8:29 PM |
Anybody play guitar?
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Laidback742
Posts: 2,713
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I've played off and on most of my life. One mistake I made, and I've seen many others do, is pick up a guitar and try to play something intricate right away. Start out nice and simple, learn the basics, experiment. Most of all, enjoy it.
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| Jan 18, 2007 @ 10:53 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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zendivamom
Posts: 212
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I agree with the Laidback guy...take it easy and just have fun with it. Go to the library and find sheet music to play around with. If you don't know music theory already...don't stress it because it's not mandatory. It's nice...but lots of musicians just play by ear. I found myself singing and strumming chord progressions to easy songs in no time when I started...and I'm no virtuoso, mind you! I placed stickers on my daughter's (and ex-husband's) guitar fret board for proper finger placement...so you could try that if you want. Once you learn A, C, D, E, F, G, E minor and A minor you can almost play anything you want. You'll want to learn more, of course...but I've written entire songs while just alternating between E and A Minor...LOL! Lots of music from the 60's and 70's...really any rock...are built on chords C, F and G!
I think it's cool that you've taken the initiative to try something new.
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| Jan 19, 2007 @ 4:52 PM |
Anybody play guitar?
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GibsonGirl93
Posts: 1,162
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I do....just keep on keeping on! it'll seem like the tips of your fingers are about to fall off at first, but I agree - practice with your accoustic first. There are lots of things different about an electric, but you'll pic that up with time.......After a while, your finger tips will get used to it! Good Luck!
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| Jan 19, 2007 @ 4:55 PM |
Anybody play guitar? |
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tatiana329
Posts: 725
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I can play and play and play... only I'm tone deaf so it only sounds good to me and nobody else.
Same with piano :)
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