How to learn guitar

by **Monker** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:10 pm

What do you people think is the best way to learn guitar without spending $'s on lessons?

by **Andrew** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:40 pm

Air Guitar.

by **verslibre** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:13 pm

Andrew wrote:Air Guitar.

I concur!

by **verslibre** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:13 pm

Monker wrote:What do you people think is the best way to learn guitar without spending $'s on lessons?

Esteban!

Website · by **steveo777** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:37 pm

If I were going to learn, I'd first decide what kind of guitar I wanted, buy it, then take professional lessons.

I used to play a Franciscan A-580 that my parents bought me back in jr. high. It had a really mellow tone and was a fine acoustic, nylon stringed guitar. I moved away from home and the parents sold it. I'd love to have it back, but so far have not found any for sale.

I need to pick it up again. I also have a Martin D-28 stashed somewhere and I need to find it. It also came from the 70's and a guy lost it to me on a bet, back when I was in the service.

by **No Surprize** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:28 pm

First find some tab music on something you LIKE to play. Nothing to hard, something easy at first. And PRACTICE each day or night for at least 30 minutes.

Your fingers need to be programmed to move into positions that aren't normal. It's not easy when your older to start guitar. Most people give up on it after the

first 2 weeks. But, it is a practice thing. Do it over and over and over and over until you can finally make it to the next set of tabs without fucking up. There are

plenty of sites to get tabs on the net for free, so there really is no excuse not to learn the basics.

by **slucero** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:32 pm

steveo777 wrote:If I were going to learn, I'd first decide what kind of guitar I wanted, buy it, then take professional lessons.

I used to play a Franciscan A-580 that my parents bought me back in jr. high. It had a really mellow tone and was a fine acoustic, nylon stringed guitar. I moved away from home and the parents sold it. I'd love to have it back, but so far have not found any for sale.

I need to pick it up again. I also have a Martin D-28 stashed somewhere and I need to find it. It also came from the 70's and a guy lost it to me on a bet, back when I was in the service.

if you have a 70's Martin D-28, yer sitting on a guitar worth about $1500-$2000....

by **Aaron** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:01 pm

I'd learn the basics first. Learn all of the standard chord structures for the standard chords (A, B, C, D, etc.), learn the power chords and then learn the pentatonic scales (most rock songs use these scales). All of the lead lines are based on these scales. At the same time learn some simple songs once you have the chords down to keep you spirits up and start rocking. Youtube is a great lesson resource for free.

If you want to learn a specific song correctly, try this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDwMPrzmll8 You can download lessons for $2. It comes with the correct sheet music and is taught correctly note for note. This guy is well worth the two bucks.

Good luck man.

by **The Sushi Hunter** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:52 am

Monker wrote:What do you people think is the best way to learn guitar without spending $'s on lessons?

Have friends that play guitar help you out. If you don't have any friends who play guitar in a band or something, find some.

by **Everett** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:56 am

Monker wrote:What do you people think is the best way to learn guitar without spending $'s on lessons?

Try guitar hero first. I SUCK at that game :twisted:

by **Monker** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:29 am

Everett wrote:
Monker wrote:What do you people think is the best way to learn guitar without spending $'s on lessons?

Try guitar hero first. I SUCK at that game

Rocksmith is a better option...but you need a real electric guitar and/or bass for it...not a Guitar Hero type guitar.

http://rocksmith.ubi.com/rocksmith/en-u ... index.aspx

I own it...it has good and bad points. The bad is it doesn't teach you proper technique...I find myself scrambling to hit the right note, and not trying to do it 'right'. It also has a leveler...which is good in that you don't jump into a song way over your head....it's bad because you may know the song at a certain level but you have to 'prove' it to the game to move on. The song list is OK...but you can buy songs, just like Guitar Hero.

It comes with a USB cable that you can use to plug into your PC to play and record. You can also download freeware to get various "amps" to change your tone and sound. Haven't messed with this much tho.

by **Monker** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:56 am

Ok, a few details.

A few years ago I bought an Ibanez acoustic-electric "jam pack": http://www.ibanez.com/AcousticGuitars/model-IJAE5BK

I guess the experience wasn't quite what I expected. I find I don't like strumming chords on an acoustic. That's really the bottom line. After I bought Rocksmith earlier this year, I knew that I would be much happier dropping the acoustic/electric in favor of an electric. So, I researched and researched and I ended up buying a Fender Modern Player Maurader: http://www.fender.com/products/modernpl ... r-marauder

Much happier with that

It's just a cool looking guitar and I love all of the various sounds I can get out of it.

So, I guess I'm an "experienced beginner"? I've practiced scales. I know some chords. I know all of "Soul Man", I've always loved that intro...cool to be able to play...and it's not that hard.

It just seems like there should be more to do then practicing chords and scales (which Rocksmith is awesome for, BTW) and looking on YouTube for lessons on various songs.

by **Liam** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:08 am

I learned by ear, so I can't help. lol

by **The Sushi Hunter** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:28 am

I learned by ear. Doing so has it's own set of pro's and con's. Best advice is get with others who are good at playing guitar. They can give you sound advice plus tips on what worked and didn't work for them which you can find very helpful. My playing really took off once I started getting with other guitarists.

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:19 am

Local community centers often offer beginning guitar, piano, etc. classes that are uber-cheap and short-term which will teach you the basics. Another excellent option is a no-credit or open-entry/open-exit class at your local city or community college. These classes are also very inexpensive and provide the beginning student a broader range of the fundamentals like reading and understanding tablature, chord progression, etc. An added bonus to the community college option is the classes are often taught by music professors/professionals who have a vested and personal interest in the instrument as well as being passionate about music in general.

Like others who have replied, I learned partially by ear as well as by being shown various chords by guitarists in the various bands I played in over the years. It wasn't until I took a class like one I described above that I was able to connect the dots and fill in the gaps about chord variations, alternative fingerings, scale progression, etc. It did me a world of good 'cause now I can play "Kum By Ah" in 3 different keys AND without looking at the neck!! :lol:

by **Everett** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:50 am

kum by ah lol

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:51 am

Everett wrote:kum by ah lol

Wrong thread Eve. Its GUITAR not SKINFLUTE !

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:52 am

Everett wrote:kum by ah lol

Liked that one did ya? :lol:

I was actually going to write "Michael rowed the boat....." but it was just too long of a title. :lol:

by **Liam** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:51 am

Try this, dude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndg0sJ2dXUM

by **RPM** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:06 am

The first song I learned how to play on guitar was "stone in love"
Its easy to play, And it was fun to play along with the record, find songs you
like that are not to difficult, keep the learning fun, do you have a friend who
is more experienced? scales and practicing chords can be boring, so mix that up
with songs as you are learning, as was suggested above, tabs are a great way for
a beginner learn. for me the fun was hearing myself playing something i knew
and enjoyed, keep it fun

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:13 am

RPM wrote:The first song I learned how to play on guitar was "stone in love"
Its easy to play, And it was fun to play along with the record, find songs you
like that are not to difficult, keep the learning fun, do you have a friend who
is more experienced? scales and practicing chords can be boring, so mix that up
with songs as you are learning, as was suggested above, tabs are a great way for
a beginner learn. for me the fun was hearing myself playing something i knew
and enjoyed, keep it fun

There's a lot to be said for that. And there's no better motivator than witnessing your own progress via something produced by you which you couldn't do only a day or a week prior. The more you learn, the faster you'll learn. Agree with RPM about the tedium of chords and scales but they're so important in the grand scheme of things. Think of them as the peas and carrots you had to eat with the rest of your dinner and you couldn't get dessert until you ate them. :lol:

Taking piano lessons for the 12 years I did was an investment in me I'll never be able to thank my mom enough for although I HATED them at the time! A couple of the advanced teachers I had were diehard classical and theory people. I'd have to play scale derivatives and progressions for an hour every day before I could even begin playing the songs I was learning at the same time. These scale workbooks sucked! Imagine a sheet of paper in front of you the area of which is more covered with ink than not. The ink of course being the music you were practicing! Handel, Chopin, Tchaikowski, anyone?? :lol:

by **Everett** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:49 am

If only I would've stuck with keyboard lessons when I was younger.
My mom pushed me so of course I fought back and eventually won.
I could be playing don't stop believin by now...... I mean blue collar man

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:40 pm

Everett wrote:If only I would've stuck with keyboard lessons when I was younger.
My mom pushed me so of course I fought back and eventually won.
I could be playing don't stop believin by now...... I mean blue collar man

Hell... the math says I've been playing for 42 years and even when I was at the pinnacle of my abilities back in my late 20's, I was nowhere even remotely close to this... Then again, there may be 6 keyboardists on the planet who are! :shock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV-gddts3I0 (His entire solo is unreal and beautiful but the real fun starts at 2:36... hehe! )

In my above post when I mentioned the importance of scales and chord progression.... that's what it takes to get THAT good!

by **verslibre** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:02 pm

JRNYMAN wrote:Hell... the math says I've been playing for 42 years and even when I was at the pinnacle of my abilities back in my late 20's, I was nowhere even remotely close to this... Then again, there may be 6 keyboardists on the planet who are!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV-gddts3I0 (His entire solo is unreal and beautiful but the real fun starts at 2:36... hehe!)

Wakeman is also one of my keyboard gods. Top Fiver, no sweat. It's disgusting how much hate he gets because his solo discography is so vast he has a number of clunkers, but the good stuff is really good, if not cookin.' I was just listening his Themes CD earlier today. It came out in '97 and it's gotten "lost" among his countless albums, but it's a good one.

That solo you posted is from the Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford & Howe tour, which I did go to (not that exact one). Punch up Wakeman's solo from Yes's Union tour. That's another corker. I wasn't going to make it to that show back in in the day, but my best bud showed up and said "Let's see if we can score some tickets!" We went to a scalping agency not far from the venue and, unbelievably, scored a couple of GREAT seats. The show was "in the round" at the San Diego Sports Arena, and we were only a few rows up. Wakeman "passed" right by us during his solo.

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:59 pm

verslibre wrote:Wakeman "passed" right by us during his solo.

Ahhh... he was still doing the strolling solo then...
Not sure what happened to ol' Ricky but somewhere along the way he decided to BECOME Merlin! :wink:

That particular solo I posted is from their show at Shoreline in the Bay Area - Quite possibly the best amphitheater sound-wise I've ever experienced. I think it has something to do with how steep the damn place is! :lol:

Between Wakeman, Rudess and Emerson, I'm pretty sure 90% of the talent is used up.The other 10% is what got divided between the rest of the keyboardists on the planet. :lol:

by **verslibre** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:27 pm

JRNYMAN wrote:
verslibre wrote:Wakeman "passed" right by us during his solo.
Ahhh... he was still doing the strolling solo then...
Not sure what happened to ol' Ricky but somewhere along the way he decided to BECOME Merlin! That particular solo I posted is from their show at Shoreline in the Bay Area - Quite possibly the best amphitheater sound-wise I've ever experienced. I think it has something to do with how steep the damn place is!

Between Wakeman, Rudess and Emerson, I'm pretty sure 90% of the talent is used up.The other 10% is what got divided between the rest of the keyboardists on the planet.

Don't forget Jan Hammer! He's way up there. He blazed many a trail in the '70s and his Minimoog solos were to die for. I doubt he even owns one now...*sniff*

by **brandonx76** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:58 pm

I'm following this product for piano (the piano version), I'm hoping to get through by early next year, then start with lessons...

http://www.amazon.com/Gibsons-Learn-Mas ... ter+guitar

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:53 pm

verslibre wrote:
JRNYMAN wrote:
verslibre wrote:Wakeman "passed" right by us during his solo.
Ahhh... he was still doing the strolling solo then...
Not sure what happened to ol' Ricky but somewhere along the way he decided to BECOME Merlin! That particular solo I posted is from their show at Shoreline in the Bay Area - Quite possibly the best amphitheater sound-wise I've ever experienced. I think it has something to do with how steep the damn place is!

Between Wakeman, Rudess and Emerson, I'm pretty sure 90% of the talent is used up.The other 10% is what got divided between the rest of the keyboardists on the planet.

Don't forget Jan Hammer! He's way up there. He blazed many a trail in the '70s and his Minimoog solos were to die for. I doubt he even owns one now...*sniff*

Completely forgot about Jan... definitely a worthy opponent!
Ahhhh, the 70's.... When I was 14 I got the gig playing keys in a well-known, long-time established cover band. The rest of the guys were in their 20's or older and other than the kickass performance I turned in at my audition which got me the gig, I had no credibility whatsoever - and.... being only 14 didn't help to build any either. I decided what I needed was a cutting edge technology kit that would make people think twice about writing me off due solely because of my age. I took everything I had saved from my paper routes and lawn mowing jobs and convinced my parents to spot me the rest of what I needed and bought the following:
Micro Moog
MaxiKorg
Fender Rhodes 88 Suitcase
Hammond B-3 w/ rotating Leslies
Wurlitzer 56-key multi-function (remember those pieces of shit?! :lol:

God damn thing hummed and buzzed constantly if you weren't actively playing it! )

brandonx76 wrote:I'm following this product for piano (the piano version), I'm hoping to get through by early next year, then start with lessons...

http://www.amazon.com/Gibsons-Learn-Mas ... ter+guitar

How dare you interrupt this hijack with your topic-relevant post?! :lol:

Not familiar with it personally but it's a Gibson branded product and it's got 39 5-star ratings so I have to believe it's excellent. How far into it are you and what was your skill level prior to purchasing it? Could you play by ear to some extent? Read music at all? The reason I ask is my oldest daughter (21) wants to learn to play and I'm the world's worst teacher when it comes to piano and this just might be the ticket.

by **slucero** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:04 pm

I have Synthogy Ivory on my Mac... amazing sounds...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCc8ALV93H0

by **JRNYMAN** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:26 pm

slucero wrote:I have Synthogy Ivory on my Mac... amazing sounds...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCc8ALV93H0

Wow! That is amazing. The feature that impressed me the most was the sympathetic resonation. When you remind yourself that aside from the keys themselves, there are no moving parts to create the sounds. Technology has been very kind to the music industry and the instruments which make the music. Back in the day, when I owned the kit i listed above, everything had to be programmed on the fly. Sure there were a few presets but by and large, you were constantly turning knobs and adjusting sliders. Sequencing, midi, oversampling,.... those were foreign words to a keyboardist. Then, Yamaha changed everything when they released the DX-7. Gone were the days of lugging around numerous pieces of heavy, bulky equipment necessary to re-create the sounds required. That was the single biggest leap in the world of keyboards since the Fender introduced pressure sensitive keys a few years prior which, when compared to what Yamaha brought to the table, wasn't really that big of a breakthrough. The abilities of today's most tech. advanced keyboards are nothing short of amazing.

MR

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