Who here plays guitar???

[Egypt[4TH-Reactor]]

I want to learn. Where shall I start?

What is the best way?

[neverlearn]

well i had abunch a friends growing up that playedand they were really good so they showed me how to do power chords etc and little riffs here there over a joint or some beer.
So now...Igot tothinking Ishould learn properly and buy a guitar....and low and behold there is software "learn to play guitar...I think I might try that. Although I havent used the software myself...I do have faith that it probably is pretty thourough

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Get a guitar...and start playing.

If you have the desire, you'll learn, and hopefully you'll discover something original.



ADG Webmaster

[Nicky]

I play.....

get lessons man, to learn the basic theory then start playing around with scales and chord progressions......and ofcourse learn how to play along with other bands tunes

[basschick]

most of the people i know who simply got a guitar and tried to stop playing, didn't. it was too hard with no idea of how to get started, and they gave up.

there is no one best way - what is easier for one is hard for another. my fiance is the fastest guitar player i've ever worked with, and one of the fastest i've heard. he learned by playing with his favorite songs, all of which were death metal. it took a lot of patience when he got started, but more - it took TONS of motivation that most people don't have. he REALLY wanted to play death metal, more than he wanted anything else. and then he learned other kinds of music.

i learned guitar by taking lessons, and i've taught a lot of people beginning guitar, too. i usually start them on a couple easy songs. you can learn a few simple songs using chords like e minor - a great chord that only takes two fingers of your left hand ;) - and a minor. once you learn a couple songs, the motivation kicks in.

i was taught a couple sorta easy songs, then learned to read music and play through a series of spanish guitar exercises. to tell the truth, i didn't like it, but for some people, it could be cool. i will say one thing for it - being forced to practice all those exercises for years sure makes you remember some of them.

i've seen some great online lessons. why not use google and see what's out there?

[ADL Colin]

Originally Posted by Egypt[4TH-Reactor]

I want to learn. Where shall I start?

What is the best way?

Learn tablature. Find some TABs for songs you like.

[Egypt[4TH-Reactor]]

Wow! Nice Girl!

I already have a guitar and I wonder where to start...

Shall I go to some school or what? Or shall I learn to play on my own?

Shall I use books or what?


I just wonder what is the best way.

[Egypt[4TH-Reactor]]

Originally Posted by basschick

most of the people i know who simply got a guitar and tried to stop playing, didn't. it was too hard with no idea of how to get started, and they gave up.

there is no one best way - what is easier for one is hard for another. my fiance is the fastest guitar player i've ever worked with, and one of the fastest i've heard. he learned by playing with his favorite songs, all of which were death metal. it took a lot of patience when he got started, but more - it took TONS of motivation that most people don't have. he REALLY wanted to play death metal, more than he wanted anything else. and then he learned other kinds of music.

i learned guitar by taking lessons, and i've taught a lot of people beginning guitar, too. i usually start them on a couple easy songs. you can learn a few simple songs using chords like e minor - a great chord that only takes two fingers of your left hand ;) - and a minor. once you learn a couple songs, the motivation kicks in.

i was taught a couple sorta easy songs, then learned to read music and play through a series of spanish guitar exercises. to tell the truth, i didn't like it, but for some people, it could be cool. i will say one thing for it - being forced to practice all those exercises for years sure makes you remember some of them.

i've seen some great online lessons. why not use google and see what's out there?

Thanks a lot man - very good unswer I suppose. I'll try to look for online lessons

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by Egypt[4TH-Reactor]

Wow! Nice Girl!

I already have a guitar and I wonder where to start...

Shall I go to some school or what? Or shall I learn to play on my own?

Shall I use books or what?

I just wonder what is the best way.

All of the above...

Best if you have someone to show you the way (i.e, lessons, or learn from a friend or friends - the more styles the better). Their inspiration can prod you along during the difficult first 6 months or one year, as you learn to hold chords and figure out lead progressions.

If you are serious, learn to read music and study music theory, and get really good - this takes longer than playing sloppy, but in the end you will go farther.

From the beginning, find your own voice. It's always good to learn from the masters/legends (all good guitarists do this...Hendrix studied Robert Johnson, etc...), but you always have to stretch your own boundaries.

On electric, learn Beck, learn Clapton, learn Page...on acoustic learn Paul Simon and the Beatles. Learn the more modern guitarists as well, Cobain, Navarro, etc.

If you want to go wild check out John McLaughlin or Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Duane Allman, Carlos Santana, Yngwie Malmsteen, George Benson, Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Pete Townshend, Todd Rundgren, and the list goes on and on...

I even studied Les Paul, Carlos Montoya (flamenco) and jazz/blues greats such as Wes Montgomery, Larry Carlton and B.B. King, even though I prefer playing rock guitar.

There is a world of great guitarists out there. I have always advocated learning to play what you like listening too, because as a guitarist you are going to play the songs you love thousands of times. Might as well get used to them early on.

I guess I can probably play 4-5,000 songs by heart by now - but like everything, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

The beauty is, it does not matter what your level of accomplishment is, by learning to play music you will give yourself a lifetime of enjoyment.

Support music education in the schools!!!

Good luck,

ADG Webmaster

[Hell House Vic]

I play... here is how you learn. Get an electric guitar, a POD (just go to Guitar Center and say "I want a POD"), and some headphones. Then plug it all in. Put on master of puppets and fuck with the damn thing until you can figure out how to play the simple part in "THE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE" -

Once you learn that you are home free and you can become and advanced guitar virtuoso, no problems.

[flirty]

sniperwolf does...

btw, where is that pimp?

[IwantU Bryan]

I just play Acustic Guitar, the best way to start could be downloading the basic clases from internet, and definitely when you have that down, get some private lesson´s

[Hell House Vic]

classes and lessons suck, in my opinion - find a friend who knows more than you and let him or her show you a thing or two - but just noodle with the thing and figure it out yourself - that's the best way

[taibo]

Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude

tranny

[ElvisManson]

Originally Posted by Kick Ass Vic

classes and lessons suck, in my opinion - find a friend who knows more than you and let him or her show you a thing or two - but just noodle with the thing and figure it out yourself - that's the best way

there is no way out of wood shedding. Not if you want to be any good.

[XAKEP]

[Entropy]

Do nothing but practice the basic chords until you get them down and your fingers flow from chord to chord...once you do that, your skills will progress rapidly

[flirty]

Originally Posted by taibo

tranny

oh fuck look at the shape of her head

[Mr Pheer]

I played for a few years when i was in the Army and had lots of time to do nothing while stationed at Ft Drum during the frigid winters.

Its best if you have a friend or teacher.. but if you dont have that available to you, I recommend Doug Marks. He looks a little goofy, but he plays very well and has a good teaching method on his videos. He'll have you playing pretty good within 3 months if you practice daily, and within 6 months your non-playing friends will think you're a guitar god.

http://www.metalmethod.com/

[Violetta]

I started 15 years ago with a "learn to play guitar" book. 2 months later I got a Metallica cd and a Metallic tablature tab book! Then I was hooked. Start a band after a year or so. Thats the best practise you can get!

Play every day.


"If you stick with the guitar, you will be rewarded"
- Jimi Hendrix

[Mr Pheer]

Originally Posted by Kick Ass Vic

I play... here is how you learn. Get an electric guitar, a POD (just go to Guitar Center and say "I want a POD"), and some headphones. Then plug it all in. Put on master of puppets and fuck with the damn thing until you can figure out how to play the simple part in "THE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE" -

Once you learn that you are home free and you can become and advanced guitar virtuoso, no problems.

I also recommend getting a POD. Its made by Line-6 and has a shitload of different sounds and effects for your guitar. Can be played thru headphones or an amp.

And dont be cheap when buying your first guitar. You may think, I just want something to learn on, so I'll buy a cheap $150 guitar. Well, you get what you pay for, and most likely you'll wind up with an instrument that is so cheaply put together that its impossible to learn on.

Spend the money and buy a nice Ibanez, Jackson, Carvin, Washburn, or Gibson. Lots of other nice guitars out there but these are the most popular brands and you should be able to find one easily. Just go to a good guitar store, ask for a salesman and tell him you're learning and you want a good instrument that you can learn on and also play with for a few years.

[Hell House Vic]

BC Rich Bich, platinum series - the best metal guitar for the buck.

[sniperwolf]

Originally Posted by flirty

sniperwolf does...

btw, where is that pimp?

errr... Looking for me Sweet?!

[MattO]

Make sure you buy a Gibson or you'll look like a fag.

[latinasojourn]

the guitar is one instrument conducive to "stylized" playing.

get a chord book, learn to read music, understand the relationship of the notes to the frets and strings and develop YOUR OWN style of playing, not your teacher's.

[Nylz]

I started off learning 3 chords from my dad.. the A, the D and the E (was playing Peggy Sue all day long.. lol)

I also had a book, and decided to just learn all the common chords.. after I did that, I went to guitaretab.com (don't know if that site still exists, ultimate-guitar.com is another great site) and printed all my favorite songs..

If there were any chords in a song I didn't know, I just looked them up on the internet..

[mockingbich]

Originally Posted by Egypt[4TH-Reactor]

Thanks a lot man - very good unswer I suppose. I'll try to look for online lessons

Starting guitar is really difficult at first... THere is no substitute for a teacher. You must have a person to ask questions who can watch you play and then give you advice. It is way too difficult to teach yourself from books or take online lessons until you have some experience

Also, only learn songs that are fun at first. Don't worry about theory and scales and all that shit. Just have fun... the rest will follow.

Find a teacher that will teach you the style of music you like. Don't learn jazz if you really want to play metal. Don't learn blues if you really want to play punk... Don't play acoustic if you really want to play electric

Next, do not buy any guitar that costs less than 200 dollars. THey are unplayable garbage and will only frustrate you.

[digga]

"BC Rich Bich, platinum series - the best metal guitar for the buck."

dear god no. those guitars are total shit. someone said it earlier. "you get what you pay for"

check out epiphone [fuck gibsons overprices bullshit] or ibanez. you will not be dissapointed. tablature is easy to learn but doesnt really help with playing guitar the 'right' way. learn chords, theory and shit like that. i didnt and im kicking myself in the ass now.

guitar is harder at first, but supposedly easier later. its the other way around for bass.

[bhutocracy]

Just get someone to teach you how to form a barre chord and get them to show you "smoke on the water" or "smells like teen spirit" or whatever the crazy kids are into these days that is simple to play..
From there it's pretty simple to go to the online tablature sites and find out how to play songs from your favourite bands. Thats pretty much how i learnt and i can play ok. I never wanted to be Joe Satriani so i never really bothered with a teacher.. In fact I'd only really suggest a teacher after you've learnt the basics off your mates and can play a few tunes from your favourite bands so you don't waste money getting a teacher to show you how to play the E chord for $30 an hour.
If you're learning music you like from your favourite bands and that keeps you interested you will progress relatively quickly to the point where you can decide whether you need a teacher to take you to the next level.
Then again you might be the sort of person who needs a weekly time set aside to learn with a teacher to actually pick the damn guitar up and be forced to learn. I was like that with the cello as i found it quite a bit harder than guitar... stupid bow and no frets

[smack]

buy a decent guitar to start with, ilke a fender strat. buying a cheap guitar will only make you hate playing. get a tuner. sit there for hours and fuck around until you get it right.


that's about it.

[bhutocracy]

see i don't get all this cheap guitar stuff.. I learnt on a $50 acoustic.. If you love music and really want to play it doesn't matter whether you've got a $50 acoustic or a $5000 Les Paul.
The only thing I'll add is that it's easier to get your hand around an electric than a standard acoustic and far easier to reach higher up the fret board when you start learning your favourite solo's from tablature.

[Spunky]

I used too...chicks dig that shit yo

[eamedia]

this is what i did..... quit work, do drugs, practice till your sober, then do more drugs.... you get the point

[UniversalPassLorence]

My kid started this year with an instructor who comes ones a week for an hour. He is learning how to read notes and he is doing very well so far.

Get an instructor and the key is to practice.

[sickkittens]

Take lessons from someone who can be referred to by someone you know.

[Hell House Vic]

I stand by BC RICH!!!
Great fucking guitar for around $300 bucks.

Another good low price guitar manufacturer is ESP.

I would rather play a banjo than a fender.

If you want a really good and versitile electric invest in a Gibson Les Paul, or even a Gibson hollow body, and/or Paul R. Smith. Gibson is definitely the coolest and best.

[Hell House Vic]

PS - I think Epiphone sucks - get a Gibson.

[MiLo]

Buy a Gibson, try to learn on your own, get frustrated, then sell it to me to 1/3 of its price. Best advice i can give! ;)

j/k!

[sniperwolf]

acoustic guitars rock my world....any fave songs?
I love Rain by Jet Black Joe!


bro is the talented one when it comes to leads ... err maybe it runs in the family..we are ten.. and you bet we all love music...

[VooMan]

I can't even begin to tell you how important it is to take lessons and develop proper technique right from the beginning...

I started playing when I was 13. I was a huge Van Halen fan (yes, it was the early 80's) and all I wanted to do was play songs. My dad set me up with lessons, but I didn't care about reading music or practicing scales, I wanted to play songs. To make a long story short, I had a great ear and could figure out most anything. When it came to jamming, my friends could improvise while I couldn't because I didn't know shit about music theory or what the hell key we were playing in. I also developed a lot of bad habits. I haven't played in years, but I still kick myself for being such a stupid kid. I should have listened to my teacher.

Don't worry about sounding just like your teacher. Take lessons, learn music theory, learn to play properly, and then develop your own style.

Hope that helps

[newbreed]

Listen to some really good artists... you can check out my page on my web site...

http://www.clariondeveloper.com/lostsessions.htm


2257-Ben from Newbreed

[xxxjay]

I play - www.dickdelicious.com

[naugthygUrL]

Originally Posted by sniperwolf

acoustic guitars rock my world....any fave songs?
I love Rain by Jet Black Joe!


bro is the talented one when it comes to leads ... err maybe it runs in the family..we are ten.. and you bet we all love music...

thats awesome girl..

[AVM]

Great post AsiaWebDivas.

I've been really reluctant to purchase my first guitar. As, I'm hoping my John Lennon/Beatles appreciation phase shall subside/fade. It has yet too, nor do I think I will. Hence, I'm starting to think the only way to truly satisfy my thirst, is to play their music. And of course, eventually my own. So - your post sort of gave me a reminded, that I should pick up the guitar and get my fucking ass moving.

[Violetta]

Originally Posted by Kick Ass Vic

PS - I think Epiphone sucks - get a Gibson.

No they dont. If you buy one on these models, you'll find them great!


I have both Gibson and Epiphone guitars...

[Egypt[4TH-Reactor]]

Originally Posted by mockingbich

Starting guitar is really difficult at first... THere is no substitute for a teacher. You must have a person to ask questions who can watch you play and then give you advice. It is way too difficult to teach yourself from books or take online lessons until you have some experience

Also, only learn songs that are fun at first. Don't worry about theory and scales and all that shit. Just have fun... the rest will follow.

Find a teacher that will teach you the style of music you like. Don't learn jazz if you really want to play metal. Don't learn blues if you really want to play punk... Don't play acoustic if you really want to play electric

Next, do not buy any guitar that costs less than 200 dollars. THey are unplayable garbage and will only frustrate you.

I'm really thinking of acoustic guitar... And I've already found a friend who will show me some basics for a start.

[Egypt[4TH-Reactor]]

Originally Posted by sniperwolf

acoustic guitars rock my world....any fave songs?
I love Rain by Jet Black Joe!


bro is the talented one when it comes to leads ... err maybe it runs in the family..we are ten.. and you bet we all love music...

I've got one favourite song - artist is Valeriy Didiulya and the title is "Day".
It's flamenco style.

I really like this style.

And of course I stand for acoustic guitar.

[Zester]

i play guitar in rock band

[Peace]

we should jam in Vegas guys...bring your guitars and drums

[iwantchixx]

Afte playing for MANY years.. man I feel old saying that... I can honnestly say I can hold my own in any band situation, Jazz excluded.. waaaaaay too much theory for my patience level. With NO LESSONS or ANY TRAINING! Lessons are for kids who don;t realy want to play and parents forced them into it OR those who want to play so badly but lack self discipline and the ability to differenciate differences in note tones. I taught myself by listening to music I liked. I would sit there and pick out single notes until I got the right 'sound' to match the music played. I then got a guitar tuner, then learned what a power chord is... it all went from there.

All you need to know is this... the root note and what a power chord is, from there you can work anything out and learn YOUR way. The thing with lessons is the instructor has his own way of playing and learning which may not suite you at all.

Once you have mastered chugging along to your fav tunes with basic power chords and basic open chords, A,B,C,D,E,F and G go buy a tabulature book of your favorite band and chug along at your own pace learning the songs.

before you know it you'll start absorbing everything.