Picked up a guitar

Youngspanion · #1 01-02-2009, 07:48 PM

I recently bought a new acoustic guitar because I feel the need to learn the instrument. I do that with the drums now also. The guitar is a very hard instrument to play. The whole thing is so different than the bass. The chords are very hard to finger on the fretboard and the picking is obviously different. I use my fingers on the bass.

Anyone else learn to play guitar?

LongHairFreak · #2 01-02-2009, 11:52 PM

Been working on it for a handful of years. Though if anyone hears me practice, it's quite obvious I haven't worked hard enough.
I'll keep going anyway.

Planets Collide · #3 01-03-2009, 01:00 AM

[quote=Youngspanion;6756947 The guitar is a very hard instrument to play.[/QUOTE]

yeah, dude, that's why I play the bass instead... less strings...

Bongolation · #4 01-03-2009, 01:35 AM

I played guitar first and probably still play it most, as a songwriter. At the moment, I think I have thirty-six or thirty-seven guitars.

Guitar is very different from bass, especially when you start getting into chord theory and "orchestral guitar" playing, which I consider very important background for quality songwriting if you don't do keyboard.

My "three chord" songs usually have anywhere from eight to sixteen chords as played.

Stumbo · #5 01-03-2009, 01:45 AM

You might want to check out this site:
http://www.guitarforbeginners.com

Surly · #6 01-03-2009, 05:19 AM

I started playing guitar at 15, and after 6 months switched to drums and played for years. I love drumming but after all those years got bored and took up bass about 2 years ago. Still play drums though. I guess I thought that guitar would be too difficult at this point. I have an acoustic guitar, but it needs strings and I haven't bothered to fix it up. Now when I pick up a guitar the strings feel so small.

The Golden Boy · #7 01-03-2009, 10:39 AM

The easiest thing to do is learn a song you like. Preferably one that's mostly just "cowboy chords." Play that song, play those chords until your fingers develop a "memory" of where they're going. After you get a handle on those chords, you learn some new ones, and find a song that uses those chords. Every once in a while you'll run across a chord that you'll swear that you'll never be able to switch to in a hurry, but if you've got it in context with the song- eventually you'll get it.

Youngspanion · #8 01-03-2009, 10:50 AM

Thanks.

I just went to the library and picked up a book. Its called "Mel Bay's Complete Accompaniment method for Guitar". What caught my attention with it was in the beginning of the book, they show you some chords and they have exercises in there that have you switch from chord to chord. The first ones are C to Am followed by Am to D, so on and so on. These are called Developmental Exercises. I will do this for a while and see where it takes me. I like the idea of 'cowboy chords". Thats what I'm aiming for right now. I'd not only like to compose but I always liked Johnny Cash.

The Golden Boy · #9 01-03-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

I like the idea of 'cowboy chords". Thats what I'm aiming for right now. I'd not only like to compose but I always liked Johnny Cash.

"Cowboy chords" are the simple, open chords that are commonly used. E, Em, A, Am, D, Dm, D7, Dsus4, G, G7, C, F.

Once you learn to change around those chords, it gives a good foundation to learn other chords, and once you learn barre chords, you should be able to see the relation from those open chords to the barred chords.

SpamBot · #10 01-03-2009, 11:01 AM

I'd recommend barre chords as one of the first things you should learn. They'll sound horrible at first, but if you play them a lot for a few weeks, your index finger will get strong enough that the barres become useful. Definitely learn chordal things first, no one likes a shredder guitard on an acoustic

IMHO, metal, blues and other single-note styles are harder than bass. However, chords are really easy. There is no bad practice with chords, whatever you play will make your hands stronger and improve your playing.

Just wait a few months and you will be A TON better.

GeoffByrne · #11 01-03-2009, 11:41 AM

Just to give you some consolation, I started to play guitar when I was 11 years old, and I'm still finding new chord/fingering formations and stuff to challenge me.

I'm 62 come Monday.

Bard2dbone · #12 01-03-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamBot

I'd recommend barre chords as one of the first things you should learn. They'll sound horrible at first, but if you play them a lot for a few weeks, your index finger will get strong enough that the barres become useful. Definitely learn chordal things first, no one likes a BAD shredder guitard on an acoustic

IMHO, metal, blues and other single-note styles are harder than bass. However, chords are really easy. There is no bad practice with chords, whatever you play will make your hands stronger and improve your playing.

Just wait a few months and you will be A TON better.

I agree with most of this. But I've heard some darned impressive shredding on acoustic. But don't even think of trying that until you've got a whole pile of technique under your belt to draw on, because he was close to right. No one wants to hear a bad guitard shredding. On acoustic or electric.