Guitarists?

[davechen]

I've got a Fender Telecaster that I play around with. I've known the basic chords and stuff for a while, but last year I decided to start taking lessons, and it's really helped. We work on whatever song I or my teacher think would be fun to play, mostly classic rock stuff.

I highly recommend taking lessons. Of course there are books, and dvds and all sorts of resources on the net, but it's much better to have someone show you want to do and correct the things you do wrong. Just like golf lessons.

[mtsalmela80]

I own a series of 80s shredder / acrobatic guitars and play primarily hard rock, lead, etc...

I have a few youtube videos up under this same username.

[Smarf]

I'm not sure what kind of music you like to listen too or play but one of the best things accessories I ever bought for my guitar was a Line 6 Guitar Port for $89.00. It's basically a little pedal sized device you hook up to your computer. It has a built in tuner, a monthly subscription to lessons, tabs, and tones from favorite artists etc. The subscription isn't required, but it's fairly cheap like 5 - 10 bucks a month. It''ll save you money on an amp and if you're like me, I usually play at the computer anyway so I can look up tablatures quickly.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

Bump...
Really nothing to add at the moment, but I am enjoying the input.

[billm408]

It's just as addictive as golf. I started 6 years ago with kind of the same objectives as you... play just for fun, no intention of getting real good.

Well I still play just for fun except now I'm in 2 bands and have probably 25K invested in guitars, amps and assorted gear.

[TN94z]

I am trying to learn my acoustic on my own with the dvd that came with it....will I ever learn it or is it something that you really need one on one instruction with? I haven't had time to get it out of the bag in months now, but this thread has gotten me fired up again.

[Saig55]

Like golf, practice practice practice..........
I mostly play an Epiphone Masterbilt. Learn 3 chords and start a band.

[billm408]

Learn 3 chords and start a band.

+1. Learn to play A, G, D and you've got about 90% of AC/DC tunes!

[Saig55]

Mix in some EAGLES with the AC/DC and you got everybody covered...

[mirv]

when i was learning both guitar and bass, i picked out songs that i liked and took them to a guy at a guitar shop one town over, and he'd give me workable transcriptions. he charged $10 for 30 mins (though that was 10 years ago...) and we'd usually get at least two songs transcribed during that time. he'd also take out time to show me how he was playing it, and he'd give me fingering suggestions or explain if a more-than-basic technique was being used (artificial harmonics, tapping, sweep picking, etc...) and how to employ that. it worked out pretty well for me, i think. equally important to the teaching method, though, is putting in the necessary time practicing. but like i said, if you pick out a piece of music that you like, it's barely even conscious practice, it's just having a good time playing along with it.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

when i was learning both guitar and bass, i picked out songs that i liked and took them to a guy at a guitar shop one town over, and he'd give me workable transcriptions. he charged $10 for 30 mins (though that was 10 years ago...) and we'd usually get at least two songs transcribed during that time. he'd also take out time to show me how he was playing it, and he'd give me fingering suggestions or explain if a more-than-basic technique was being used (artificial harmonics, tapping, sweep picking, etc...) and how to employ that. it worked out pretty well for me, i think. equally important to the teaching method, though, is putting in the necessary time practicing. but like i said, if you pick out a piece of music that you like, it's barely even conscious practice, it's just having a good time playing along with it.

This is what I'm doing (using internet tabs). The first day I started on my Telecaster I played the opening to smoke on the water over and over and over until I could finger it well, really helped my left hand out.

[Jackslap]

Using the software recommended can be helpful, but nothing helped me more than playing with other people. Even if they don't like the same music, or play the same music you would, you can learn from their experiences.

It forces you into playing things at speed, and if you mess up, their playing will cover yours up and you be able to "hear" what it should have sounded.

Also, just play by ear. Listen to a peice of a song over and over again, pluck it out note by note, then compare it with the software and see if you are right.

[mirv]

there are also videos scattered around on youtube of people playing various songs, or sometimes giving actual lessons on how to play the song. i learned a few new tricks on bass watching a guy give a lesson on how to play primus songs on youtube.

[Travtex]

I started when I was somethingteen. Got somewhere to the 'Semi-Pro' level with music, getting some regional popularity and one mind-numbingly bad album (I wasn't at all matched to the material vocally, and ended up having to leave the band for a move during the production of the second album -- I was getting to write THAT one, the first was 'Hey, we have all of these tracks and lost our lead singer/guitarist' fill-in).

Best/Worst moment; I was about 20 or so, playing sort of a country-rock crossover sort of style, and got invited to be on the 'Charlie Daniels Talent Round-Up'. It was immediately cancelled once I had it booked. *laugh* No second chance for a 'Big Break'.

ANYway... I always found the best way to learn was as some have said: Pick out a handful of songs you like and want to play, then pop online for some chord/tab sheets, then just hammer it out. Teachers help, but practice is king.

There's a pretty steep learning curve, but it levels out soon enough.

[billm408]

Speaking of guitar... if any NorCal members are around this weekend, my band's playing on Saturday from 9:00-10:00 (you can still make that Sunday am tee time!) Complete wank fest of old school hard rock tunes (set list below).



2 Minutes To Midnight
Rainbow in the Dark
Highway Star
Ace of Spades
Wrathchild
Hellion/Electric Eye
Holy Diver
Open Fire
Hair of the Dog
Swords & Tequila
Welcome to the Jungle
Problem Child
Whole Lotta Rosie

[TempoIsKey]

If you just want to play some simple songs, take a little time and learn the 12 notes and take a little more time and learn what the 1, 4 and 5 mean and how to put them together. You can play just about anything

[Travtex]

If you just want to play some simple songs, take a little time and learn the 12 notes and take a little more time and learn what the 1, 4 and 5 mean and how to put them together. You can play just about anything

This, too.

That, and learning G, C, and D will enable you to play roughly twelve billion songs. (Then, if you REALLY want to rile up the lust-blind groupies, learn Am. "Yay! They know FOUR chords!!!")

[is2linda]

The only thing that will get you going, same thing for golf, is having a good environment that encourages you. I use to have friends that all played instrument and it made me want to work hard, but after they all switch to different things, it became a different story. You just need someone to motivate you to play.