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Basic Guitar for a bassist?

drewphishesp

drewphishesp

Feb 14, 2017
3,831
2,997
#1
hey guys was looking at picking up a guitar to fool around with and learn some songs and stuff

What should I start with learning wise? Ive played off and on for a long time but never seriously.

Chords? Scales? Songs? Idk
 
#2
Do you want to mess with rhythm or lead?

If rhythm, an acoustic is fine. Currently it's a golden age for super-cheap starter acoustics by Fender, Gretsch, and Ibanez that actually play decently. Download a chord chart, figure out which fingers feel most comfortable where, and practice a whole bunch.

If lead, get a Squier Strat. No reason not to; you can get an Affinity for as little as $99 new, but you'd need an amp, cables, etc. You can learn chords on that, too.

Go Pats...
 
#3
Acoustic or electric $300 should do it for a good "enough" guitar. You will need an amp, cables, music stand, strap and a how to play the thing book. Thousands of books on the market. I recommend one of the Dummies series to get you started.

Learn the 21 chord finger patterns. Seven major chords (C), seven minor chords (Cm) and seven diminished chords (Cm7b5) fingering. That will keep you busy for a month. When you get the 21 patterns down - where they are true and bright -come back and we will get into the other stuff. The F is a bitch for everyone... some give up and capo into something else.

If you are going electric. You still need the chord fingering I spoke of above, plus you then need to run your scales a zillion times up and down the fretboard. When you have accomplished this then come back and we will get into the other stuff.

My first acoustic was an Alvarez. Gives a nice mellow sound that everyone comments on. Went with the Parlor size as it fit me. My first electric lead was a $300 Yamaha.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/alvarez-rp266sesb-parlor-acoustic-electric-guitar

Have fun.
 
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#4
I got a lot of mileage out of my roomate's copy of this book:

9780679742753_p0_v1_s550x406.jpg


Light on notation / tab, solid and readable explanations on theory and fundamentals.

It's also worth looking into the "CAGED system" when getting started.
It's a good "map" of how chords and scales relate on the fingerboard ( useful to bass as well)
 

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