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[UtadaBarkley]

I know most of you know I'm into hip-hop, but I also like other genres of music as well. So, today I finally took the first step to fulfilling my dream of learning to play the guitar.

I didn't buy the most expensive set of strings out there, since I'm just starting out. But this is my new baby (for now). My goal is not to play in a band or anything, I'd just like to become proficient enough that I could add the live sound to some of our hip-hop compositions, or whatever else comes down the pipe. I gotta keep my options open.

Except mine is black.

Fender Standard Stratocaster

I know it's not the top of the line, but again I'm just starting out. I also got a pretty decent deal, $150 shipped, with gig bag, strings, and more.

 

[Litigation Manuel]

Yeah, looks nice. I would recommend getting some basic lessons from a teacher. That or a book. I'm partial to a teacher, which you could find at most any music store.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Yeah, looks nice. I would recommend getting some basic lessons from a teacher. That or a book. I'm partial to a teacher, which you could find at most any music store.

The only problem is TIME... I have so little. What books do you reccomend?

I saw a "Guitars for dummies" but I skimmed through it, and it looked pretty vague. :lol

 

[Litigation Manuel]

I'm not sure what books to recommend, I personally always hated learning from them. A chord book might be useful, which you could probably find at any music store. Also keep in mind most lessons (at least around my area) only last a half hour, so if you can find a consistently free half hour each week, learning from a teacher could still work. Otherwise, it is possible to teach yourself, just takes a little longer, but you're also more likely to develop a more personal style.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

I'm not sure what books to recommend, I personally always hated learning from them. A chord book might be useful, which you could probably find at any music store. Also keep in mind most lessons (at least around my area) only last a half hour, so if you can find a consistently free half hour each week, learning from a teacher could still work. Otherwise, it is possible to teach yourself, just takes a little longer, but you're also more likely to develop a more personal style.

Cool. I'll look into it about the teacher. if it's only a 30 min session, I may be able to squeeze it in sometime during the morning hours. Also, I agree about the whole "developing a personal style" thing. It looks and seems so hard, I'm a pretty fast learner, but I guess time will tell.

 

[AlphaSnake]

Look...I guarantee you that books are a waste of time. Just start fiddling with the guitar yourself. Books will only complicate and bore you, because they will teach you based on the authur's experiences. You will be severely limiting yourself by learning from a book. I'm self-taught. 2 years of playing and I can play anything from The Beatles, to the Foo Fighters, to Metallica (various solos included). I've managed to learn how to do some pretty speedy shit, but I'm working on making the "speedy shit" sound coherent. I'm getting there, and I really can't wait until I can nail a nice Iron Maiden solo.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Look...I guarantee you that books are a waste of time. Just start fiddling with the guitar yourself. Books will only complicate and bore you, because they will teach you based on the authur's experiences. You will be severely limiting yourself by learning from a book. I'm self-taught. 2 years of playing and I can play anything from The Beatles, to the Foo Fighters, to Metallica (various solos included). I've managed to learn how to do some pretty speedy shit, but I'm working on making the "speedy shit" sound coherent. I'm getting there, and I really can't wait until I can nail a nice Iron Maiden solo.

Sounds good to me... I plan on just playing around with it for a few weeks just to see what I come up with. If I hit a speed bump, I'll more than likely just use the internet for help.

 

[Litigation Manuel]

Good plan. Also, if you find any problems, be sure to come to the forums, I'm sure we can help. I'll be happy to share some exercises to help you with certain aspects of playing.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

Good plan. Also, if you find any problems, be sure to come to the forums, I'm sure we can help. I'll be happy to share some exercises to help you with certain aspects of playing.

Likewise. Judging by most of the music threads, and the fact that no one can agree on much of anything, I think the muscal background of the forum is pretty diverse, so you should be able to find someone to help with most problems.

 

[Star Power]

eh, I'll make a seperate thread.

 

[tt_deeb]

I'd definately recommend NOT getting a book. A teacher might be a different story - probably more so if you want to read music and learn the correct theory, plus the teacher will be able to guide you on what you need to work on and he/she can go at an appropriate pace. However, I'm self-taught (teaching) and it's really easy. Look up tabs for songs that sound easy, visit forums (I'm sure we can help most of the time too), many sites have free guitar "lessons" with included videos/tabs/descriptions. Guitar is probably the easiest instrument to learn especially with the endless amount of resources on the internet.

If you have a friends that play they can help teach you - jam with them. Or convince another friend to get a guitar, its fun to have someone you know at your level and you can learn together.

 

[AlphaSnake]

The internet should be your teacher.

Also, start familiaring your self with the anatomy of a guitar. Referring to parts of a guitar as "you know...that thing next to the etc." isn't exactly brilliant convo. Hehehe. You can ask me a question about guitars anytime you want, man.

 

[iapetus]

My goal is not to play in a band or anything

Wrong. It's the best way to learn.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

My guitar came in today, but I'm still at work, so I won't get to fool around with it until later tonight. What are some of the first things that I should do with the guitar to help the learning process? What's the whole deal with tabs? How do you go about playing tabs? They look so weird that i fear I'll have trouble deciphering them. Is there a website that explains everything?

 

[Litigation Manuel]

http://guitar.about.com/library/blhowtoreadtab.htm

A site I found on google.com that seems to explain tab pretty well.

One of the first things you should do before you begin trying things out is to make sure the guitar is in tune, since you likely don't have a good ear for it yet I would recommend a tuner, which you should be able to buy at any guitar store. Also ask the staff their for a slight explanation on it's use, it should help.

Also, find some tabs (or ask one of the GAFfers here) for a simple song to begin to learn to read tab and do basic playing skills. I began with Happy Birthday which suited me well, so if you would like to learn that just ask.

That's the best suggestions I can think of right now.

 

[AlphaSnake]

My guitar came in today, but I'm still at work, so I won't get to fool around with it until later tonight. What are some of the first things that I should do with the guitar to help the learning process? What's the whole deal with tabs? How do you go about playing tabs? They look so weird that i fear I'll have trouble deciphering them. Is there a website that explains everything?

Oooh, tabs are easy. Just imagine that a tab is basically a ASCII drawing of the neck of the guitar and the six strings. On each string pictured on the tab will be numbers, the numbers represent the fret of the guitar which should be played. Easy stuff.

 

[skip]

www.olga.net is your friend.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Oooh, tabs are easy. Just imagine that a tab is basically a ASCII drawing of the neck of the guitar and the six strings. On each string pictured on the tab will be numbers, the numbers represent the fret of the guitar which should be played. Easy stuff.

Well, damn that does sound pretty simple. But is this considered cheating in the guitar world? I mean, is that really learning to play? Am I making sense?

 

[UtadaBarkley]

http://guitar.about.com/library/blhowtoreadtab.htm

A site I found on google.com that seems to explain tab pretty well.

One of the first things you should do before you begin trying things out is to make sure the guitar is in tune, since you likely don't have a good ear for it yet I would recommend a tuner, which you should be able to buy at any guitar store. Also ask the staff their for a slight explanation on it's use, it should help.

Also, find some tabs (or ask one of the GAFfers here) for a simple song to begin to learn to read tab and do basic playing skills. I began with Happy Birthday which suited me well, so if you would like to learn that just ask.

That's the best suggestions I can think of right now.

Damn, I knew I was forgetting something! I've heard people mention something about online tuners, is that feasible, or should I definitely op for some sort of hardware? Sorry about the dumb questions, I have no clue what i'm getting myself into. :lol

 

[AlphaSnake]

Well, damn that does sound pretty simple. But is this considered cheating in the guitar world? I mean, is that really learning to play? Am I making sense?

Cheating it isn't. A great way to learn it absolutely is. Unless you know sheet music down to a science, tablature is a fantastic thing. I use it all the time, especially since organized sheet music is too expensive and very hard to find.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Cheating it isn't. A great way to learn it absolutely is. Unless you know sheet music down to a science, tablature is a fantastic thing. I use it all the time, especially since organized sheet music is too expensive and very hard to find.

Cool, thanks for the feedback, I guess I'll bombard you guys with more questions after I spend a few hours with it. Argh, work can't go by fast enough.

 

[AlphaSnake]

Cool, thanks for the feedback, I guess I'll bombard you guys with more questions after I spend a few hours with it. Argh, work can't go by fast enough.

Just remember. When you make a song about how shitty bands like Creed, Simple Plan and the lot are...remember to give a guitar shoutout to your sensei AlphaSnake.

 

[Teknopathetic]

After years of using tabs, I'd recommend learning how to read music over tabs. It won't be as easy, but you'll find it more beneficial in the end.

 

[demon]

Look...I guarantee you that books are a waste of time. Just start fiddling with the guitar yourself. Books will only complicate and bore you, because they will teach you based on the authur's experiences. You will be severely limiting yourself by learning from a book. I'm self-taught. 2 years of playing and I can play anything from The Beatles, to the Foo Fighters, to Metallica (various solos included). I've managed to learn how to do some pretty speedy shit, but I'm working on making the "speedy shit" sound coherent. I'm getting there, and I really can't wait until I can nail a nice Iron Maiden solo.

You cannot teach yourself even basic musical theory. A book can help with that, as well as give you pointers on how to use the instrument. It can also be helpful in guiding you on how to go about practicing: scales and arpeggios, etc. You can't figure that stuff out on your own. Then again, I suppose this is stuff you can get off the internet for free.

You can only get so far without some kind of guidance, be it a book or a teacher.

Well, damn that does sound pretty simple. But is this considered cheating in the guitar world? I mean, is that really learning to play? Am I making sense?

It's not cheating in learning to play. But you should learn the universal method of reading music. Plus you'll have a better understanding of the instrument.