Guitarists?

[Iowa Hawkeye]

I've been messing around a little lately. Trying to learn a few songs by feel on my out of tune acoustic. I picked up Friends in Low Places fairly well, and now I'm part way into Hotel California. Just the basic strummers, no real picking yet. Any tips on getting started?

[microcrayfish]

I found Guitar Pro really helpful when I was starting out. It's good because you can both see and hear what you're trying to learn. It costs money but you can download it through *ahem* "other" means if you really want.

[J-Rob]

My biggest piece of advice would be to play alot and practice as much as possible in the beginning to build up calouses. Also the internet is you're friend and there is an insane amount of tabs, lessons and videos at your disposal.

[brn14me]

first tip - ALWAYS play a guitar that's in tune
every time you pick up your guitar check it's tuning. if you're playing out of tune then you're not hearing what you're supposed to be hearing and it will throw you off forever (there are lots of tunings but for the most part acousticly starting out everything's going to be 440)
learn all the major and minor chords
start with the easy ones - you can play literally hundereds of songs with just G C and D
take it slow - work on changing chords by grouping - just like golf it's all about muscle memory - don't go from a G to a D one finger at a time, press down on all 3 strings at one time.
for learning easy songs youtube is great - search 'easy acoustic songs' or something like that and there are some really good lessons out there - justin sandercore and guitarjamz are really good guys
after you get a majority of the major and minor chords down go to barre chords. main thing is have fun with it - if you can hold a tune work on singing while you play too - it helps if you start right off the bat

[WilsonWedgeMan]

just one:
buy a Gibson....

Good Luck....

[n8ron]

Just one:
Buy a Fender

Whatever...

Actually, Line 6 Guitarport is probably the BEST beginner's guitar tool. A whole mess of different amp and effect sounds. If you pay a membership fee, you can get real tabs that you can play along with real backing music. This is a really fun way to get started.

If you don't want to go that route, just learn as many songs as possible. I would stay away from internet tabs, because unless you are experienced, it is hard to tell which ones are crappy, because most are. There are many professional "Hits" tab books in your preferred musical styles.

[M2R]

I like Justin Sandercoe's site: http://www.justinguitar.com/

Like a few have already said having a good action with decent intonation will make life a lot easier. If you can't afford a Gibson/Fender/Martin/etc. try to find a local luthier that you can trust to check/adjust the action on the guitar you have.

[WilsonWedgeMan]

Just one:

Fenders are for the frontend of automobiles....

[WilsonWedgeMan]

I've been messing around a little lately. Trying to learn a few songs by feel on my out of tune acoustic. I picked up Friends in Low Places fairly well, and now I'm part way into Hotel California. Just the basic strummers, no real picking yet. Any tips on getting started?

in all seriousness, find an instructor. you'll learn more,faster being taught on a routine basis. it's money well spent if you're interested in becoming a musician/guitarist.

[pittpanther]

I like Justin Sandercoe's site:

I agree on Justin's site! Let's put it this way - his site is free, but I am considering sending him a significant financial contribution anyway. That's how good his site is, at least for an intermediate (me).

Not too many sites keep my interest for long - his is one of the best.

[billm408]

Learn songs that you want to play. Have fun!

[kfowler]

I've taught off and on over the years. The Internet is such a valuable tool. I wish I had it growing up. Focus on the major and minor chords and strumming. Down, down, up, up, down, up. Try to focus on the correct way to hold a pick and finger a chord. Frustrating at first but like golf, you don't want to have to unlearn any bad habits.

Looks for familiar songs that have the chords you're working on.

Play with others as much as you can. That's when you'll really learn. Plus playing with yourself and playing with others is an entirely different thing.

#1 suggestion: Always use a metronome when you practice.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

I don't care about becoming really good or anything, just wanting to play a few basic songs for fun.

[RC]

I play classical guitar, and practice almost everyday. Guitar is a wide range of skills, types, choices of music, etc. Of course classical players do not use a pick, or acoustic, or electrical guitar, we are pretty simple with no electronics, and only the guitar and our hands. Just as every type of guitar has their own reasons for enjoyment of their instruments, the pute sound of timeless music is mine. I play almost every evening, perhaps more than half of the time pieces by J.S. Bach. but also Albeniz, Scarlatti, Tarrega, and a host of composers -- none of them having written anything in the last half century. The guitar is a love just like golf, and quite similar. It is just you and the music, or the course.

[RC]

I just had one of the worst days in a few years (on the golf course)... scored terribly, but hit a few really good shots, and some absolutely awful ones that killed my score.

But I got home and played this piece:

Search you tube for "BWV 1007 guitar" and click on the first one on the list.

It is actually from a cello suite, but sits amazingly well on the classical guitar. I play it almost everyday and it is always like magic, my mood lifts. That is what guitar does for me.

Enjoy.

[billm408]

Search you tube for "BWV 1007 guitar" and click on the first one on the list.

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...rch_type=&aq;=f You're an Asian woman? (j/k) I've never been able to pick up the guitar right after a round. The fingers don't cooperate after 18 holes. At least not for a couple of hours anyway. Made the mistake once of going from the course to a gig... that was painful for everyone!

[RC]

No, no an Asian woman, but Ms. Li is pretty amazing. Hope you enjoyed her rendition of the BWV 1007 by J.S. Bach. If you liked her playing, search for her epic "Grand Jota" by F. Tarrega... it is a challenging piece and she is astonishing. Her name is Li Jie, and she is a prodigy.

Of course, if you are a guitar appreciator, BWV 1006a, the Gavotte, played by Andres Segovia is my all time favorite. It is also on youtube.

[TN94z]

I have a Fender acoustics that I am just starting to learn on.