| Sep 29 @ 10:14 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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lj450
Posts: 8,399
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Ive got a bert casey primer and dvd for acoustic guitar. My guitar is an old Ibanez that I bought at a pawn shop, and I have an electronic tuner for it.
Im practicing several times a day, though not for a real long time. I can feel my fingers getting tougher and stronger. So far I can play the G chord, D chord, and C chord, a couple of minor chords using only two fingers, and I can play the G scale. I still cant move seamlessly between chords, and my timing leaves much to be desired. Im thinking about geting a metronome to help with my counting.
Any guitar players out there with tips for a beginner, I would sure appreciate your help. Its definitely not easy.
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| Sep 29 @ 10:40 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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Merchitown
Posts: 3,730
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My father tried to teach me, unfortunately he said, "Girl you have NO rhythm." It's still true to this day. 
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| Sep 29 @ 10:52 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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believen
Posts: 38
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If nothing else; go to youtube and type in guitar lessons for beginners...you can pause it, etc.
I learned alot of really cool drum runs from rock bands by typing in drum lessons intermediate.
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| Sep 29 @ 11:24 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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youbetcha
Posts: 6,495
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Folk songs are good for beginners of you can get a guitar book of them still...I learned with songs like "Down in the Valley" and "Red River Valley" a long long time ago
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| Sep 29 @ 11:27 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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Kenn159
Posts: 2,773
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I have been playing guitar since I was 11, and although learning to play does require an investment in time and effort, I am soo glad I stuck with it and learned to play.
Your fingers might hurt and you might feel like giving up as the majority of people that take up the guitar do, but if your willing to make the investment in time and effort, the rewards are 10 fold .
The way I learned to play is I would listen to music, and then dissect the cords and lead solo’s, figure out what scales they were constructed from, then write my own solo’s and cord combinations.
Since we now have youtube, I think the suggestion from the other poster for guitar tutorials is a good one also.
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| Sep 29 @ 11:31 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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SpiritEnergy
Posts: 16,973
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Hey, Lj, I could send you some energy to help. Other than that, youtube. Up to you. Let me know if it is ok to send.
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| Sep 29 @ 11:52 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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tahoma
Posts: 10,526
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I've been playing guitar since I was 9, so I had the advantage of youth in that my fingers were still nimble.
First tip I can offer is to remember your thumb placement on the back of the neck. Keep it in the middle of the neck, it's easy to get into the habit of "wrapping" your thumb around the back of the neck, but if you keep it in the middle you have more of your hand in front of the fret board where it belongs.
Don't try to go too fast... one step at a time.. pick a song (there are some great Beatles tunes) that have 3 or 4 chord changes (Pink Floyd's Pigs on the Wing only has 4 chord changes in it) and practice with those. Something you know the rythym to without thinking and your timing will improve without the use of a metronome.
Oh... and keep the fingernails on your left hand trimmed well below the tip, to reduce fret buzz
Good luck and have fun 
[Edited on 9/29/2008 11:53 PM]
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| Sep 29 @ 11:52 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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brinkmann
Posts: 8
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You have to play every day. If you don't you aren't really trying...
Gear has nothing to do with it, all you need is your guitar, and possibly an amplifier. Gadgets won't make you a better player, just practice.
With practice it all falls into place, timing, technique, all of it. Getting a primer dvd was a good idea. There are also a TON of instructional videos on youtube. that's all you need, along with patience and dedication.
-BB
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| Sep 30 @ 7:53 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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dazee
Posts: 2,840
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The closest i get to a guitar ....is playing guitar hero with my kids....i can only use three colors still....i'm so lame on it....lol
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| Sep 30 @ 9:28 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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lazareth
Posts: 1,081
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my son taught himself to play by going to Tabs.com ( I think, .... I'll ask him tho)
He started when he was about 13 years old...... now he plays everyday and has gotten to be pretty good. He can't read music tho, just plays by ear.
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| Sep 30 @ 9:52 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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1RockinDude
Posts: 7,540
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A chord book is a main-stay..Learn all the common chords first
G, C, D, F A, E
There is a million three chord songs in this world, often G,C, and D.
Most country music is tuned standard. Most Rock bands are tuned a half-step down, unless they have a keyboard, piano..then they would be playing in standard.
But I would work on basic chords, over and over. When you master that, then you have all the bar-chords to learn. And to learn..where your G,C,D, and so on are..
A chord book shows all the postion, and where and how to fret a chord. Place of the fingers.
Some basic minor chords are used a million times..and many easy to play..like
E- minor A- minor C add 9..etc..and are played in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, frets
Starting out just keep it simple..
And on..keeping time..try to think of how a song you like goes, hum a note..whatever..Put on a cd and listen. Freebird for instance..starts in a G..then D,
A minor, F , C , D then back to G
Also ..to note the strings are counted from the bottom up 1 through 6
Hope that helps, some.
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| Sep 30 @ 10:08 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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lj450
Posts: 8,399
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Thank you guys so much. I will definitely check out youtube and work on my chords. SE, of course you can send positive energy my way. You never need an ok from me to do that. I will take all the help I can get! haha
Im not good enough to be able to tune my guitar without using the electronic tuner. If its not in tune, you are wasting your time.
My thumb placement often resorts back to when I had a classical guitar yrs ago and tried to learn (pressing the tip of the thumb against the neck). I gave up on the classical because the fretboard was too wide and I couldnt reach all the strings very well. My hand is loosening up and getting stronger now that I have kept at it. Its hard to believe how uncomfortable it is to press the strings!!
If I can get halfway decent on the acoustic, I would like to get an electric guitar and a small amp to play around with. I figure it would be much easier to move from the acoustic to the electric than vice-versa.
What type of guitars do you guys have? Which ones do you think are the best? Amps too. I would love to have a Takamine or Martin, but I dont want to sell my truck to get one.
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| Sep 30 @ 7:14 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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SpiritEnergy
Posts: 16,973
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 Ok, will send!
I have a Ventura. I bought all my guitars for their very narrow necks. This way it was SO much easier to play. I have small hands.
Try also doing wrist and finger exercises. Noooo, not THAT kind, LJ. With an exercise dohickey. wrist strengthener
[Edited on 9/30/2008 7:48 PM]
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| Sep 30 @ 9:20 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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lj450
Posts: 8,399
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Hey thanks!! Ive been looking for one of those. I just ordered it!! 
Ive got several of the regular hand grips, but they dont work each finger individually. I think that will help alot.
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| Sep 30 @ 9:39 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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SpiritEnergy
Posts: 16,973
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You are welcome! I have one but rarely use it.  My hands are weak. Um, after all, I don't ah, exercise them faithfully like a lot of guys do.
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| Sep 30 @ 10:05 PM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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fenderchick
Posts: 2,767
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Yay for you Lj...
I have to agree with what rocking said. Learn a,g,d,c, for sure. Tons of songs only have 3 basic chords over and over...
I think it's time for a webcam lesson 
Brown Eyed Girl, easy for a beginner...
If you want I can email you some tabs.
-Dont cut your nails too short or your fingers will bleed when the skin rips away from under the nail. Eventually your fingertips will be calloused and you'll get used to it. Try and play every day.
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| Oct 1 @ 9:17 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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lj450
Posts: 8,399
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I have to get better before you can see me play on webcam!! Otherwise, you will just stare at my penis and tell me how good I can play. 
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| Oct 1 @ 9:28 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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Jalon
Posts: 898
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Lj plays nekkie! Try puttin' on some pants and I'm betting your "focus" will improve.
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| Oct 1 @ 9:53 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar
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horizon000
Posts: 939
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LJ,
Though not always practical, a good method to improve play is to practice with a partner. My son is learning and we bumm around together. I had to drag out the old Gibson and he has a cheap and nasty acoustic. I ditched the Nylon strings for steel and he is now getting calouses. His fingers are getting hard.
I bought "Simply Guitar" by Steve Mackay on DVD and we play it often.
Two good beginner tunes are "House of the rising Sun" and "Brain Damage". As Tahoma said, there are heaps of Beatles numbers to choose from also.
Practice makes perfect...
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| Oct 1 @ 9:59 AM |
Trying to learn to play the guitar |
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horizon000
Posts: 939
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Edited to add...
A lot of Mobile (cell) phones have Metronomes in them...
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