Learning the Guitar (Acoustic)

[JDxD]

Okay, so some background info on why I'm starting:

1. I have a guitar, my dad got me one around 2 years ago and I barely use it, though my mum picks it up and plays and sings 'Bubbly - Gabriela Cilmi' once in awhile.

2. It's been on my mind lately, I'm hearing some subconscious message saying, "You should play the guitar. Learn the guitar...".

3. Finally, yesterday I was at my friends and I saw his dad's guitar, I picked it up and put my fingers in 3 random spots on the strings and went up and down the scale... Or whatever it is. I just went from higher to lower and vice-versa strumming. The sound sparked something within me, some kind of part within my brain, it soothed me as well. In the end my friend said, "That's some nice noise you got going there." So I stopped, and went, "You know, I'm gunna learn the guitar."

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So today I had spares because my Year 11 history teacher wasn't at school. I went home, and as I was walking in my front door I spotted my guitar on it's stand in the lounge room, picked it up and carried it with me to my room.

I got to my room, started up my comp and started surfing the net looking for ways to learn the guitar myself. I found this site called, Jamorama (http://www.jamorama.com/). It looks pretty cool. It's basically a site which sells lessons which teach you how to play guitar. It had some free trial lessons which I did, and then I looked at the full deal and it looked pretty sweet. Heaps of lessons, heaps of bonus programs and all this crap for 50 bucks. Which compared to getting a tutor to teach me looked a lot better financially.

The problem is, I have no money. The other problem is, my mum is already paying for a billion other things for me at the moment and she doesn't have much trust in these lessons from a computer...

I worked out it will be at least a week before she'll buy me this.

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So I put this to you A4'ers... What is the best, free way for me to start my guitar conquest until I can get the package from Jamorama? Or do you have a better idea than using Jamorama? I urge you look into the site before you start flaming it or whatever you folks might do.

Oh and look, I know a week isn't that long, but I have some serious inspiration right now, and I want to use it in a productive manner before it fades... As it might.

[Professor Nutbutter]

It's great that you want to learn the guitar. I'd start by searching YouTube for beginners lessons. Also, as a fun break in between drilling yourself with chords and strum patterns, try looking up some tablature (tabs) to your favorite songs on sites like www.ultimate-guitar.com, they also have lessons on how to read tabs.

My advicee to you is to learn to tune your guitar first. ;)

[JDxD]

Aha, thanks for your idea, I'll certainly have a browse on YouTube.

Hehe, yeah luckily my mum's boyfriend who lives with us says he can tune guitars and he has one of those electronic tuners so I'll be learning that tonight. :)

[iZychr]

1st, tune dat geetaah.

2nd, search for a simple song, Birthday song and Spongebob theme is simple.

3rd Look fer the tabs/chords of the said songs.

4th Look on how to do the fingering of the chords of the songs.

5th Just strum once for the 1st time, try to follow the chord runs. When you get the hang of it, try to emulate the real strumming. Strumming for the said songs is the same: Down, Down, Up, up, down.

Youtube it nao!

[Vessicator]

Ask a shred-master friend. Take lessons for about 3 weeks, or until you can read tabs and know what the power chord is.

Then grow a fringe and buy some tight clothes and get your lips pierced.

[JDxD]

I got the fringe... Got the tight jeans...

WOO! SHRED-MASTER!

Oh and my progress has been slowed for tonight due to upgrading to Windows 7, I'm just learning lots and lots chords and practicing switching through them as well as the timing of my strumming.

I'm loving it. :D

[Kurapika]

Have you learnt the 0-3-5 0-3-6-5-03-5-3-0?

[JDxD]

Eh... No, what is that?

[Aelith]

ah lol, thats smoke on the water, pretty much a basic song xD very easy, but the way to make it sound as it should is to use the two strings in the middle at the same time, and im trying to learn guitar here aswell :P tho if you dont want tutor i recommend friends etc.

[Tovarishchi]

I'm pretty much a completely self taught bassist. I talked to a couple friends and they sat down with me everyday for 2 weeks to make sure I got the right technique, I was on my own from then on. Talk to your friends, guitar is a very popular instrument you're more than likely to find a friend or meet someone willing to teach you for free. Youtube lesson videos, there's alot out there. Once you learn some basic chords and scales you'll be ready to start making your own music.

The best thing you can do is just dive in, pick a couple of easy songs to start with, then go from there.

Good luck,
-Tova

[jubei_massages_goku]

Learn to read tabs (very easy). Find tabbed chords and songs online.

[Cammy]

The best advice I can give you is to learn how to use your fingers properly (:lol:). My boyfriend was self taught (not very well), and then he went to a tutor and had to re-learn finger positions and how to play the guitar correctly. This was years ago though. If you can get the basics down, it's not as hard to escalate from there.

[Vessicator]

Tremolo picking is oftentimes the decisive factor between an amateur guitarist and an actual guitarist. Learn it.

[jubei_massages_goku]

Think of tremolo picking like this: You don't stroke yourself in just one direction, do you?

[Professor Nutbutter]

Think of tremolo picking like this: You don't stroke yourself in just one direction, do you?
I don't stroke myself at all. It's dirty and will make you a blind man with furry palms.

[Tovarishchi]

Tremolo picking is oftentimes the decisive factor between an amateur guitarist and an actual guitarist. Learn it.

Depends on the style of the guitarist and what music they play...

[Cammy]

Depends on the style of the guitarist and what music they play...


Lol, no.
Noobs can only stroke one way. Truth.

(Not to mention strumming both ways is much more efficient and enables you to play faster/better.)

[Vessicator]

Depends on the style of the guitarist and what music they play...

Oh yes, we must not forget that 'shitty music' is also a respected style, and all the advantages of a downwards attack of 16th notes at a tempo of 132. YEAH THAT IS ROCKIN'.

[sixc]

What is with all this tab ****. :|

Learn to read real notes. Not tabs.

Unless you want to be a teenage fag instead of any sort of musician.

[Professor Nutbutter]

What is with all this tab ****. :|

Learn to read real notes. Not tabs.

Unless you want to be a teenage fag instead of any sort of musician.
Just suggestions for a n00b, thaz all yo. Also, learn music theory **** like how chords are formed. It's interesting, *****.

[sixc]

Tabs are for people who just want to play a couple quick songs instead of learning how to play guitar. :| If he wants to actually learn, he should skip them.

[JDxD]

Well...

@Tova
Yeah thanks, I did start asking a lot of my friends about it.

@Vessicator
Tremolo picking, hey? I spoke to a few friends of mine about it today, they seem to think along the same lines as you.

@Jubei
lol

@sixc
Yeah, I'd rather learn the harder way if it'll pay off. However, I don't want a music teacher, as they cost too much. So I might be stuck with tabs.

Oh and I can tune and string a guitar. Know most of the basic open chords and can switch between them reasonably fast, as well as a few song rhythms I learned from a guitar DVD we had lying around. I'm trying to increase my finger-picking skills with some exercises as well, and I guess the main thing is: I'm really enjoying it. :D

[Professor Nutbutter]

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.

[JDxD]

And the random, pointless posts start coming in.

Sometimes I wish I could delete stuff.

Then I think, I do it to others...

Karma, hey?

[jubei_massages_goku]

What is with all this tab ****. :|

Learn to read real notes. Not tabs.

Unless you want to be a teenage fag instead of any sort of musician.

A lot of great guitarists don't know how to read notes.

Reading notes or tabs doesn't make you a musician ... it might help you get started, though.

[RurouniKenshin]

well ive been playing guitar for a while (bout a year) now and i know over 55 songs. the website you want to go on for all tabs is 911tabs.com they have everything. trust me youll love it plus you can go on youtube.com and find out how to sweet pick and chicken pick (guitar strategies) and then once you can keep a very nice rhythm and you can play a few songs. start looking up how to solo. they show you riffs on guitarpro.com their linked to expert village. i have a real passion for music sooo good luck and hope you get far with it


Have you learnt the 0-3-5 0-3-6-5-03-5-3-0?

i have never actually learned that umm i g2g for now but ill explain more later

[Tenken]

Learning to read notes isn't a terrible idea. But, learning how to have fun with music (ie how to rock) is the most important part. You have to listen to what you're doing. You have to develop an ear and your own taste. That can't always be taught. I studied classical piano for years and years and never really got far. Studied blues for a year and instantly improved. Especially rhythmically.

And on that note, try to learn some blues early on. It's pretty easy, it helps develop your sense of rhythm, and there's lots of room to learn how to improvise once you get farther in your studies. My favorite part was, you didn't write down a whole lot. You might need a good digital recorder though.

[JDxD]

@Tenken
Hmm, true. I DID actually get taught by a guitar teacher for a few weeks. But I couldn't stand it. So I rage quit, and ended up not playing for a year or two, and here I am now.

Thank you everyone for your advice, I've learned a lot on how I should approach this. But of course if you have anything to add, go for it!

:D

[Vessicator]

A lot of great guitarists don't know how to read notes.

Reading notes or tabs doesn't make you a musician ... it might help you get started, though.

That's pretty damn ironic if you ask me. But you didn't. :(

[sixc]

A lot of great guitarists don't know how to read notes.

Reading notes or tabs doesn't make you a musician ... it might help you get started, though.
Right, you can learn how to be a great musician by guessing the rhythm and dynamics of every song you learn.

Unless you plan on coming up with every song you ever play by ear.

[Vessicator]

Kinda worked for jazz, amirite?

And look where they ended up. On public radio :(

[sixc]

Yeah, with Hannah Montana and Britney Spears.

[jubei_massages_goku]

Right, you can learn how to be a great musician by guessing the rhythm and dynamics of every song you learn.

Unless you plan on coming up with every song you ever play by ear.

The goal is to stop playing everyone else's songs like a tool and doing your own stuff. Also, what do you mean by guessing? Just play along with the f*cking songs. It's not that hard, though it takes practice.

Stevie Ray Vaughn didn't know a damn thing about reading music. He just loved listening to and playing music. And that's only one example.

Also, jazz, like Vessicator said.

Essentially, people who think there is only one righteous path to being a guitarist need to get over themselves and try looking at music history, for it clearly shows your viewpoint is a load of bullshit.

Sometimes reading music helps people. Other times, it strains their creative potential. The individual is far more able to make this distinction than a pretentious nerd on the Internet.

[Vessicator]

Well my point simply was that, whether it hampers or exemplifies musical prowess, it should still be learned. Jazz musicians are known for their ability to improvise, but one doesn't become a jazz musician just by improvising. Reading and writing are just as important.

Just look at Sammy Nestico.

I think that learned musicians should be able to demonstrate a variety of musical styles, understand the concepts of musicianship, and master most, if not all techniques used by their instrument. But perhaps in regards to OP, this would be too much to ask for.

He's not asking to be the next Yngwie.

[sixc]

The goal is to stop playing everyone else's songs like a tool and doing your own stuff. Also, what do you mean by guessing? Just play along with the f*cking songs. It's not that hard, though it takes practice.
Tablature does not have tempo, note duration, etc. If you want to write out your own songs, are you expecting to memorize them all? Make a recording of every catchy tune you come up with?


Stevie Ray Vaughn didn't know a damn thing about reading music. He just loved listening to and playing music. And that's only one example.

Also, jazz, like Vessicator said.

Essentially, people who think there is only one righteous path to being a guitarist need to get over themselves and try looking at music history, for it clearly shows your viewpoint is a load of bullshit.

Sometimes reading music helps people. Other times, it strains their creative potential. The individual is far more able to make this distinction than a pretentious nerd on the Internet.
What the flying ****. This was about standard notes being better to learn in the long run than tablature or not learning how to read at all. I never said there was only one way to learn music. And I don't see how having the ability to read and write sheet music hampers creativity at all. Does being literate strain someone's language skills?

[JDxD]

Yeah, I just want to be able to play guitar, not be some famous musician.

But um, I do find it hard to read notes, and I think what jubei is saying that if you learn music by learning notes and theory first, it can constrict your ability to within the confines of the more structured pieces rather than just experimenting and thinking up your own thing. Then again, I don't really know sh1t about music, or what jubei was thinking.

Also, I would like to learn how to read music, just for the sake of reading music, as I'm sure it can't be bad in the long run. But I might learn to read music in a few months and for now just get use to playing a guitar and learn some chords.

[Paroxysm]

I want to learn this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4

[Mr. Pokemon]

1st, tune dat geetaah.

2nd, search for a simple song, Birthday song and Spongebob theme is simple.

3rd Look fer the tabs/chords of the said songs.

4th Look on how to do the fingering of the chords of the songs.

5th Just strum once for the 1st time, try to follow the chord runs. When you get the hang of it, try to emulate the real strumming. Strumming for the said songs is the same: Down, Down, Up, up, down.

Youtube it nao!

Spongebob ending song is EXTREMELY easy. Played it after one hearing of it on my Spongebob DVD.

OT:

The EASIEST song ever is "Brain Stew" by Green Day.

E---------------------- 5,5,3,3,2,2,1,1,0,0,5,5
A----------------------
D----------------------
G----------------------
B----------------------
E----------------------

on the thickest string (the E string) play on the 5th fret from the tuners twice, then 3rd (2x), then 2nd (2x), first (2x) open [which means you don't push any strings when hitting the strings](2x) and back to 5th string.

{DISCLAIMER: This is for bass}

Here is the song: (IN GUITAR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDCb2WKpPkw

[jubei_massages_goku]

Tablature does not have tempo, note duration, etc. If you want to write out your own songs, are you expecting to memorize them all? Make a recording of every catchy tune you come up with?

My songs are like children. They may not be anything special to anyone else, but I don't forget them.

And your first sentence ignores what I said about playing along to songs. You don't need a music sheet to learn how to keep time. It can help you, but you don't necessarily need it. Again, the individual should make this decision.


What the flying ****. This was about standard notes being better to learn in the long run than tablature or not learning how to read at all.

Tabs can get people started more quickly than notes.

And by the way, some tabs, like those featured in magazines, do keep note duration in mind.

Again, it all depends on the individual.



I never said there was only one way to learn music.

Oh, that's right. You just said someone is a faggit, not a musician, if he doesn't do what you do.

[JDxD]

@Setsuna
Thanks, but the guitar version is a little too strenuous for my fingers at the moment.

But I bookmarked it and put it in my 'Guitar' folder for later use.

:D

[JManDO]

Of course, learn the basic chords.

Then do scales repetitively until you can do them quickly without looking.

Then pick songs (sheet or tabs is your choice).

[JDxD]

Then do scales repetitively until you can do them quickly without looking.


What exactly are scales?

[sixc]

Oh, that's right. You just said someone is a faggit, not a musician, if he doesn't do what you do.

Lol.
No, I don't think someone is a faggt for not doing what I do.
I think people who learn and remain reliant on tabs+audio guidance are faggts, just like you think anyone who doesn't write their own songs is a tool.
I don't try to argue against stupid opinions with equally stupid ones.



JDxD;
Scales are like exercises. You basically play a set of notes that go up and down in pitch.

[Castanett]

Twelve string player here!

I really recommend learning from someone in person. You just can't get the same experience from a computer program as you can from a teacher. As far as tabs, they're great for building finger movement skill, but keep in mind most of the ones that are posted online are not made by the artists themselves, but rather by average folks like you and I so they are in no way perfect.

[im ena]

^ Agree about the tabs. Also, learning by ear means you're learning the perfomer's interpretation of the work, which actually limits your creative interaction with it.
If you're serious about learning to play an instrument you'll fork up the cash to learn it properly, even if that means nothing more than aquiring a solid technique.

[JDxD]

@sixc
Mm, okay cool. I'll do some research.

@Castanett
Well it is made by a proper guitar teacher, and it's more of an PDF book type thing, coupled with some programs. But you're probably still right.

@im ena
Hmm, I have to save for a lot of things right now. I'm going away in 17 months on this 'World Challenge' program and it costs 7 grand, so right now I'm focusing on that. But yeah, I really do need to put some money into it...

It's just going to take awhile.

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And again, thanks everyone.