THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 07:16:44 PM

Title: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 07:16:44 PM
Figured i'd start one instead of spamming up the outside link thread.

Anyways between this week i'm going to make the plunge and get myself a future in music. I have decided between four different starter sets:

Option 1 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Stop-Dreaming-Start-Playing-Affinity-Strat-HSS-Pack-With-Fender-Frontman-15G-Amp?sku=513288)

Option 2 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Stop-Dreaming-SE-Special-Pack-With-Squier-SP10-Amp?sku=513287)

(is there any real difference between the two?)

Option 3 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Artcore-Ser-Hollowbody-without-Tremolo?sku=519527)

Option 4 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-SA100-Acoustic-Pack?sku=511682)

Now I wasn't sure if I should buy both the acoustic and electric packs, since i'll have the exposable income, or just buy one (I'm kinda leaning towards electric atm because they look cooler). Then there's always bass. Argh, I don't know!

Now the real question I have is what accesories/books would you guys reccomend I get for just starting out? I'm defintly going to be looking at the price of lessons so!

Thanks :D
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 07:29:16 PM
I sold my electric guitar after a month of trying to play some chords. Shit is hard. Godspeed to you.

Fuck chords. I never play them. Yeah I do powerchords, but I only like to play Metal, so there you have it. I only play Lead guitar, so a lot of single notes and 'solos' types of stuff. I'm really not interested in all those chords, but I'm sure I will start on them soon. For now I just play things I like to play. Bits of songs here and there, I enjoy it.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 07:31:40 PM
What songs? Not everything is played with chords you know.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 07:33:32 PM
When I was like 10 or something our music teacher tried to teach us all guitars and the first song she taught us was Yellow Submarine :D
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: etiolate on June 15, 2008, 07:35:09 PM
(http://www.mapored.com/etiolate/guitar3.JPG)

*sigh* I miss this guitar. Broke her over a year ago. Why did you go with electric?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 07:37:31 PM
I haven't gone with any yet. I've never been a big fan of acoustic though, mostly because I like to make awesome sounding sounds and not just the regular acoustic sounding sounds.

But I could be totally wrong.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 07:38:07 PM
I dont know man, I know very little of this stuff. Maybe I should have learned to play some songs first. Or maybe I couldn't even play the notes.

You can't really play the melodic parts of songs with chords. That's what lead guitarists are for. Say you want to play a bit of a song where you just hear a lot of single notes one after the other, those are not chords, you strum chords over a few strings, lead guitar is just picking each note one by one.


methodis:  screw the accoustic, an electric can act as an accoustic as well, and you can do so much more with an electric. Once you discover the awesomeness of Distortion, you'll fall in love. Get a guitar with a humbucker.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 07:43:16 PM
Whats a humbucker?

Also how do I get one of those killswitches like buckethead...or is that way beyond anything a noobie should be messing with.

Also I don't want to spend too much money at first, like in the 2fiddy range for the first guitar. Thats why those squier packs are incenting.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 07:45:26 PM
I showed you what a humbucker was in the Outside Link thread.


it's the double pick-up on the body of the guitar beneath the strings. Those things catch the vibration from the strings and put it out into sound through an amplifier. A humbucker will give you a fat crunchy tone, necessary for distortion. Distortion on single coils sound like shit.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 07:46:07 PM
Ahhhh thats right. I forgot what that was called heh.

But also were there any real difference between those two squier starter packs? It seems the cheaper one has the better looking guitars, oddly, but the more expensive one just includes headphones and a fender amp.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 08:00:40 PM
What songs were you trying to play?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 08:06:31 PM
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-PAC112J-Electric-Guitar?sku=511077

methodis: A lot of people seem to praise the Yamaha Pacifica 112 guitar. It's a great stratocaster with a humbucker in the bridge. I think it would be a great versatile guitar. From what I know, I would recommend either this guitar, a low-end Ibanez with a humbucker, or a Squier Fat Strat (also equipped with a HB)


But you are going to have to buy the amp and everything else seperately. Don't worry about it, it's better that way. Most guitar packs are low quality.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 08:17:06 PM
Wow that yamaha looks pretty sick, same with that squier fat strat hah. I don't know now!!!

I still have to decide between the stupid bass and regular guitar also :(!

Actually this one looks pretty awesome this (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-GRX20-Electric-Guitar?sku=519417).

I don't mind having to buy an amp later on, i can always use my multiple pc's as an amp for now.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 15, 2008, 08:19:13 PM
Why would you want to play bass? Seems boring to me. You'll only get 1 type of sound out of it and it will all be .....bassy
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 15, 2008, 08:22:55 PM
I dunno, i've always been infuated with Les Claypool. Plus for some reason, i think bass is easier in my head heh

But that Ibanez guitar is looking really appealing.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 16, 2008, 12:34:59 AM
I'm gonna interject here and say, no matter what kind you buy, learn some cords. What Powerslave is suggesting may be fun for playing around, but only focusing on lead is extremely limited. You need to learn everything possible. It will just make you an all around better player.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: bagofeyes on June 16, 2008, 01:21:07 AM
I'll also interject and say distortion on single coil pickups doesn't always sound like shit
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on June 16, 2008, 01:38:15 AM
I got an acoustic guitar last summer. Haven't had any time to play it at all. :(
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 16, 2008, 10:50:55 AM
Lol so many conflicting statements!  :lol

Oh well, few more days before I can actually order, heh.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 16, 2008, 10:52:12 AM
I'm gonna interject here and say, no matter what kind you buy, learn some cords. What Powerslave is suggesting may be fun for playing around, but only focusing on lead is extremely limited. You need to learn everything possible. It will just make you an all around better player.

I wasn't suggesting anything to the OP, I was talking to Kosma.

I'll also interject and say distortion on single coil pickups doesn't always sound like shit

If you got an expensive guitar/pick-up.... sure, maybe.

And hotrails aren't single coils.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 16, 2008, 11:12:59 AM
I wasn't suggesting anything to the OP, I was talking to Kosma.


Sorry , I misread. Past my old-man bedtime.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 16, 2008, 11:15:45 AM
I actually know several chords from being young and playing Yellow Submarine and Smoke on the Water. I was always taught though that you need to know chords most importantly no matter what, so those were drilled into our heads. I never really thought about just playing like one single strings and such.

I have a old acoustic guitar about the same size as the fake Les Paul that came with GH3...I sometimes dig it out and try it out but to no success, but I think thats because it's not in tune heh.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Jabberwocky on June 16, 2008, 11:18:59 AM
I've been wanting to learn how to play acoustic. What's good for beginners?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 16, 2008, 11:46:57 AM
I've been wanting to learn how to play acoustic. What's good for beginners?

Do you already have a guitar? If not, the packages listed by the op has an acoustic setup in option 4. Either way, If you go back in the outside link thread, you'll find a bunch of posts that should help you get started.

Start reading here:
http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=6017.msg542672#msg542672 (http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=6017.msg542672#msg542672)

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: CurseoftheGods on June 16, 2008, 12:32:18 PM
Why would you want to play bass? Seems boring to me. You'll only get 1 type of sound out of it and it will all be .....bassy

I bet he's black. Haven't you seen the South Park episode? :P
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Phoenix Dark on June 16, 2008, 01:36:03 PM
I sold my electric guitar after a month of trying to play some chords. Shit is hard. Godspeed to you.

Fuck chords. I never play them. Yeah I do powerchords, but I only like to play Metal, so there you have it. I only play Lead guitar, so a lot of single notes and 'solos' types of stuff. I'm really not interested in all those chords, but I'm sure I will start on them soon. For now I just play things I like to play. Bits of songs here and there, I enjoy it.

ha you can't play shit

a-a-a-b-b-b-c-c-c-a-a-a
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 16, 2008, 03:39:51 PM
Go play some bass PD.




CotG: yes.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 16, 2008, 08:11:25 PM
Hey Powerslave, did you keep your Ibanez S?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Scurvy Stan on June 17, 2008, 01:56:04 AM
Those packs are kinda meh. I'd say spend the couple extra hundred and get a Fender MIM Strat or Epiphone Les Paul Standard (both about $400) coupled with a VOX Valvetronic 15 watt amp (about $175) and you'll have a sick setup (yet affordable) that will last you a long ass time and sound sweet as hell. Throw in a couple effects pedals later when you figure out what you like for styles.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 17, 2008, 07:44:48 AM
Hey Powerslave, did you keep your Ibanez S?

Yeah I still got the SA160. I love it. I improved very much and I'm like 65% in of having mastered alternate picking :)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 17, 2008, 10:03:44 AM
Those packs are kinda meh. I'd say spend the couple extra hundred and get a Fender MIM Strat or Epiphone Les Paul Standard (both about $400) coupled with a VOX Valvetronic 15 watt amp (about $175) and you'll have a sick setup (yet affordable) that will last you a long ass time and sound sweet as hell. Throw in a couple effects pedals later when you figure out what you like for styles.

I really don't want to spend $600 on something i'm not even sure i'll play more than once....

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 17, 2008, 09:07:07 PM
Hey Powerslave, did you keep your Ibanez S?

Yeah I still got the SA160. I love it. I improved very much and I'm like 65% in of having mastered alternate picking :)

Sweet.   :)

Did you get used to the sharp edge on the body?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 18, 2008, 07:47:49 AM
Yeah man, that problem has completely gone away, miraculously.

I feel like I should be going to the next level. Try something different than playing music through tab, but I'm too lazy to check lessons :(
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 18, 2008, 10:51:16 AM

I feel like I should be going to the next level. Try something different than playing music through tab, but I'm too lazy to check lessons :(

There's really nothing wrong with tab, in my opinion. Do you write at all?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 18, 2008, 05:37:23 PM
No I only play other men's music.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 18, 2008, 07:25:30 PM
Yeah man, that problem has completely gone away, miraculously.

I feel like I should be going to the next level. Try something different than playing music through tab, but I'm too lazy to check lessons :(

I'm glad you got used to it.

I've always been a bit of a lazy bastard when it comes to practice, so I keep an electric in the lounge and do exercises while watching TV sometimes.  Since it's an electric it's nice and quiet so I can still hear the TV.

TAB is a very useful and quick way to get the position information - it's good to be able to read it well.

Reading notation is certainly a bonus - for rock guitar I'd start by learning time values of the notes as it's useful when you're learning a passage that is a bit more complex or quick and hence you can't get the timing by listening to the CD.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 18, 2008, 07:48:00 PM
Also, Powerslave, you could check out these books:

http://www.guitargrimoire.com/ (http://www.guitargrimoire.com/)

I know guys who swear by them. There's a whole series on different scales and methods, which, since you like playing lead, would be really handy. Best of all, if you don't feel like reading them, they have the lessons on DVD.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 19, 2008, 08:28:37 PM
I think i'll be puttin in a order Friday night for a guitar...finally *sigh*. Still don't know wtf one to get :(
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 19, 2008, 08:32:43 PM
Don't sweat it too much. Look at it this way, if you decide to play guitar in the end, whichever one you buy now will not be the only one you own. And if it turns out playing guitar isn't something you like, you won't care which one you got anyways. This first one is just a tool for you to learn on.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 19, 2008, 08:47:13 PM
Bildi I'm curious to see/hear how great you can play. Do you have any recordings of yourself? If not, can you make one if it's not too much asked? If not, can you write down and explain the things you can do? If not, can you suck my dick?


Also, Powerslave, you could check out these books:

http://www.guitargrimoire.com/ (http://www.guitargrimoire.com/)

I know guys who swear by them. There's a whole series on different scales and methods, which, since you like playing lead, would be really handy. Best of all, if you don't feel like reading them, they have the lessons on DVD.

holy SHIT at those jpg artifacts. They must have worn down that image for years by saving it in Paint as a jpg :o

I'll see if I can find these books somewhere around here.


I think i'll be puttin in a order Friday night for a guitar...finally *sigh*. Still don't know wtf one to get :(

Don't freaking order a guitar online. Go to a store and get either a Yamaha Pacifica 112, an Ibanez GRG170DX or a Squier Standard Fat Strat. You can't go wrong with either of these, all 3 got great reviews. It will boil down to a matter of personal preference (looks of the guitar), I don't think they'll sound much different from each other. Although the Ibanez does have 2 humbuckers whereas the Pacifica and the Squier are more alike.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 19, 2008, 08:48:12 PM
I don't know what that store has for inventory, but I guess i'll check it out.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Positive Touch on June 19, 2008, 08:56:20 PM
personally i'd recommend looking around on craigslist or at local garage sales for a cheap p.o.s. guitar.  sure it'll sound like shit, but you don't need an amp when you can't even play yet.  if you stick with it and want to really start rockin, then look around for a nice electric and an amp.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 19, 2008, 08:58:42 PM
I was actually thinking of looking on craigslist, but I heard that thats a bad idea because the guitars are usually fucked up on there.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 19, 2008, 09:00:24 PM
^Don't listen to Positive Touch. If you buy a piece of shit guitar with lots of problems you'll be more inclined to just stop playing all along.


but you don't need an amp when you can't even play yet. 

Bullshit. The cool sound amplifiers create will just encourage him to play more or get better. An electric without an amp is so lifeless. And acoustic guitars are shit.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Positive Touch on June 19, 2008, 09:01:17 PM
yeah but as long as the strings stay on who gives a fuck?  if you give up on guitar after a little while you saved yourself a shitton, and if you stick with it you're out like $50 but you'll have a spare guitar to smash at a live show
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 19, 2008, 09:02:32 PM
I remembered, I have an old ass like 1945 acoustic someweres in my garage. I could always dig that out to play acoustic with.

But I saw my friend play his electric with an amp and it was omgsogoodovermyface and made me want to start playing...that and i'm getting tired of fake rocking out in RB and GH when I could throw the amount of time i've put into those behind a real isntrument.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Positive Touch on June 19, 2008, 09:05:13 PM
do you know anyone else that plays?  take them with you and have you look over a potential buy if you're worried about a bad guitar.  How bad would you have to treat a guitar to seriously fuck it up anyway?

and powerslave, while i agree that an electric guitar w/amp is probably the most amazing sound ever, in the hands of a noob it just sounds painful and shitty.  and if he buys a cheapo guitar on craigslist, he can get a cheapo amp on there too.  I don't think amps even start to sound decent until you start spending a few hundred dollars anyway.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Positive Touch on June 19, 2008, 09:06:42 PM
acoustics are a bit harder because the thick strings can hurt your uncallused fingers
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 19, 2008, 09:13:21 PM
Well I don't really want an acoustic anyways, I want to jam the fuck out not make sappy love songs
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 19, 2008, 09:56:42 PM
Well I don't really want an acoustic anyways, I want to jam the fuck out not make sappy love songs

Some of my heaviest songs were written on an acoustic. Mind you, distortion usually found it's way into the mix sooner or later.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 19, 2008, 10:53:56 PM
So what is the story with all you guys - what sort of music do you like and what do you like to play?  What are you working on?

It'd be nice to get to know more about the guitarists around here since we seem to be getting a few.  :)

Edit: sorry Powerslave, I missed your question earlier.  I'll type something up.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 19, 2008, 11:03:52 PM
I like alot of different styles, I'd say a bit of everything except country. I just started writing again after a loooong hiatus. I haven't been in a studio in years. I did alot of vocal work in the 90's on some local talent's CD's as well. Father dying+family business killed my music career pretty quick, but, that's life.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 19, 2008, 11:08:50 PM
What sort of stuff are you writing?

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 19, 2008, 11:14:55 PM
What sort of stuff are you writing?



I always find these kind of questions difficult. I tend to like heavy guitars and drums, but the stuff I've been outputting the last few months runs the gamut from mellow to semi-heavy. If you're asking me to nail down a genre, I suppose rock/alternative, though the latter has been thrown around enough to make me sick.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 19, 2008, 11:19:57 PM
That's cool - it gives me a pretty good idea.  It can be pretty hard to put creations into a genre, but I get the drift.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 20, 2008, 12:04:20 AM
How about yourself, Bildi?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 20, 2008, 06:18:37 PM
I play rock and classical.  I've always played classical but I picked up electric in my teens and still predominantly like much the same stuff as I did back then (Satriani, Vai, Petrucci.... you know the drill).

I've never written a ton of music but wrote with a sequencer years ago and wrote some stuff when I've been in bands.  It tended to be similar to what I listen to - sometimes heavy-ish rhythm and some odd-time grooves, but more often mellow stuff on the whole.

Bildi I'm curious to see/hear how great you can play. Do you have any recordings of yourself? If not, can you make one if it's not too much asked? If not, can you write down and explain the things you can do? If not, can you suck my dick?

:-[  Answers in order:

Not online, possibly, sure,  :-*.

When you say "things you can do" I guess you're thinking technique stuff?

In terms of electric I'm technically OK.  During improvising I resort to legato rather than speed picking if I want quick bits.  Never been a good improvising speed picker - I can sit down and learn a speed picking passage for a song, but never really learned little patterns and so on to put in improvising.  I've actually been practicing improvisation speed picking these last few months, but not very seriously.  I'm not really a "trick-bag" improviser, so I don't have lots of cool little pre-learned sweeps and runs.  I just make it up as I go and try get a nice melody in there as most listeners need a hook to latch onto to really enjoy listening to improvising.  Helps inspire fellow improvisers too.

I don't remember a great deal of theory since I hardly ever sit down and have a jam with someone so I don't get to apply it actively.  I can remember enough to give someone a backing in the right keys or something though.

I still have source materials from when I taught guitar (haven't taught for 8 years, since I finished university) and I've been thinking of converting them to PDFs.  If I do, I'll let you know and can email some to if you like although they're generally light on explanation (since they were made for giving to students at lessons).  But they're highly applicable theory, not much wishy-washy crap in them.

Fuck, that's a long post.  So what is your story Powerslave?

And make sure you leave your zipper open while you tell it.  :-*
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 20, 2008, 06:26:03 PM
So got my paycheck today...$191  ::)

Guess i'll be saving another stupid week.  ::)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 21, 2008, 11:51:12 AM
You sound like you're very technically proficient, Bildi. Classical guitar makes me jealous. Being self taught, I have zero theory, can't read music etc. But I'm very fortunate in that I have a weird sort of musical photographic memory. If I come up with a riff, chord progression etc. that I like, I never forget it, sometimes even for years, until I get around to recording it. Sometimes I can write entire songs, lyrics and all, in my head while doing things like washing the dishes.

As for fast leads, speed picking and the like, it was something I was never terribly interested in, and i only recently have really started to put any effort into doing. I would always leave that to my friend who was a huge Satriani, Eddie Van Halen style fan, when I needed tha sort of thing.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 21, 2008, 06:31:36 PM
So I got my dads old acoustic; wish my camera had batteries or i'd take a picture. Anyways, anyone know a good online website with some basic tutorials? And on how to tune a guitar :P

-Thanks

<3 Meth
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 21, 2008, 06:34:52 PM
http://www.broadwaymusicco.com/harmony6.htm

If you scroll down to Folk it's that one. Same exact one with the case and everything.

I don't think the fret board is as big as a regular acoustic but I could be wrong.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 21, 2008, 09:02:57 PM
So I got my dads old acoustic; wish my camera had batteries or i'd take a picture. Anyways, anyone know a good online website with some basic tutorials? And on how to tune a guitar :P

-Thanks

<3 Meth

I already linked you to a page with basic chords and another page for an online tuner, back in the outside link thread, I believe.

I know it can be frustrating, but don't try to kill yourself by trying to play a whole song at this point. Get some of the basic chords down first, then work on changing between two of them. Make that your goal for this week. Maybe try the G's and C's first.

Also, hopefully Bildi will come in here and see this, as he's given lessons and may be able to push you in the right direction.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 21, 2008, 09:13:13 PM
Aight sick thanks. Yeah I actually bookmarked those two pages and used that tuner page to try and tune the guitar to what I could hear.

Of course, I don't even know if the guitar is decent anymore; it's like 50 years old or some shit.

But I want to learn so badly. I want to play some old time country like Hank Williams and such!
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 22, 2008, 07:26:38 AM
You sound like you're very technically proficient, Bildi. Classical guitar makes me jealous. Being self taught, I have zero theory, can't read music etc. But I'm very fortunate in that I have a weird sort of musical photographic memory. If I come up with a riff, chord progression etc. that I like, I never forget it, sometimes even for years, until I get around to recording it. Sometimes I can write entire songs, lyrics and all, in my head while doing things like washing the dishes.

As for fast leads, speed picking and the like, it was something I was never terribly interested in, and i only recently have really started to put any effort into doing. I would always leave that to my friend who was a huge Satriani, Eddie Van Halen style fan, when I needed tha sort of thing.

Holy crap, such a memory as that would be awesome.  So many times I've come up with something and was certain I'd remember it the next day - it never happens.  So I have to write things down which is very tiresome.  Such a pain. 

Classical guitar is fantastic - if you ever get the chance to give it a shot I definitely recommend it.  Thanks for the kind words  :-[


MyNameIsMethodis - are you starting from dead scratch?  If so, I agree with muckhole.  I'd start with strumming chords.  Find some songs that just consist of three or four basic chords.  First is getting your left hand in order, so a couple of simple tips would be:

1) Keep the palm of your hand away from contacting the neck; and
2) Keep your thumb roughly in the middle of the back of the neck rather than hanging over the top of the neck

This page has some good pictures:
http://guitarprinciples.com/Guitar_Technique/left%20hand%20shots.htm

You'll see tons of players playing with their thumb over the top of the neck and their palm wrapped tight to the neck.  There's nothing wrong with that - it's required for playing pretty much anything other than classical guitar.

But you'll find the 'correct' position will allow you far better access to the neck, and is used in a lot of playing (in the page I linked, the first two pics are the 'correct' way).  Thumb over the top is a 'lazy' way to play - if you learn that first you'll find it hard to incorporate the 'correct' way into your playing.  If you get used to the 'correct' way first, the 'lazy' way comes naturally.  And when you're starting, everything is awkward, so it's not going to take you any longer to learn the 'correct' way.

Here's two vids on left hand which are excellent - they're about classical but it applies equally to any style of guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwNJ2It-Pc8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3CPVWzl-IY

Notice in the second video at 0:17 he stretches over five frets.  That's a good example of something that you simply physically can't do if you have your hand in the 'lazy' position.  While that's a big stretch there's a lot more simple fingering positions that you'll find impossible with the 'lazy' position.

As I said before, 'lazy' position is important too.  For example, bending on an electric is far more difficult in 'correct' position.  So you should not hesitate to employ 'lazy' position in this case.

Then you have to get your right hand in order.  For strumming, your arm should be continuously moving up and down in time with the beat, and you bring your pick into contact with the strings on the beat where you want a sound.  If you don't want any sound on a particular beat, don't stop moving your arm.

Rather than typing, I found a youtube vid that explains it reasonably well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu-ZTcTd17g

Just a couple of notes on the video:

1) Their left hand technique is awful, please try not to play like that this when you're starting out; and
2) The strumming pattern they're using may be a little tricky, and also can't be applied to many other songs.  You may like to use this pattern instead as your first one:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
V   V ^   ^ V ^

Sorry if this stuff is too basic.  But if you're just starting and have never played before, it will get you off to a good start.  Good luck  :)

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 22, 2008, 04:25:38 PM
ya I didnt know any of that stuff and was wondering how to hold it correctly; I was having trouble last night learning a chord because my fingers would hit the other strings also.

Thanks for the help
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 22, 2008, 05:12:45 PM
It sucks not being in lessons because I don't know if I'm playing the chords correctly lol. Oh well. My college offers a course in learning 2 play so maybe i should check that out.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 07:12:07 PM
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Series-Bronco-Bass-Guitar?sku=510426

Bought that today, had some extra money figured i'd buy a bass if I can't get my fat fingers to work with 6 strings, figured they'd work better with 4.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 23, 2008, 07:39:25 PM
Dude... you're becoming a gear junkie!  :lol
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 07:44:24 PM
Next week is the amp and a guitar strap that will make vagina just attract to my dick. (http://www.thefugeeforums.com/forums/images/smilies/00000407.gif) (http://www.thefugeeforums.com/forums/images/smilies/elmo.gif) (http://www.thefugeeforums.com/forums/images/smilies/omg.gif) (http://www.thefugeeforums.com/forums/images/smilies/snoopy.gif)

Nah but I think I like the bass better so far...even though I don't have an amp and can't hear anything (http://www.thefugeeforums.com/forums/images/smilies/bunny.gif)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 23, 2008, 07:50:20 PM
I think we all like to live with the fantasy that guitars make girls want to hang from our wangs.  8)

Hope you enjoy the bass - the world certainly needs more bass players so if you like it, go for it.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 07:55:02 PM
I hope I do. I really really want to learn the bass. Always have, thats why I was hesitant on getting a guitar (although the guitar shop had an AWESOME looking used Xplorer for $300 today) so I picked up that Squier for one fiddy and figured i'd fuck around until I find some decent resource for learning besides lessons (full time job = lessions fail). Do you by chance know a good one? :(

Also, as for amps, would any amp work for this bass or should I get a special one?

I was thinking this one (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Rumble-15-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=480718) but wasn't sure.

Also would this wire work? :O (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live-Wire-Advantage-Series-14-Straight-Instrument-Cable?sku=330470)

sorry for the questions.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 23, 2008, 08:01:00 PM
none of the advice we gave emitted to anything, methodis is done in my book

Bildi, I'll respond to your post a little later.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 08:04:21 PM
That's not true at all. I still have my acoustic, and still will be playing it until I get comfortable with my fingers and I can purchase an Xplorer.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 23, 2008, 08:08:34 PM
Nobody told you to get an Xplorer. Outta ma face.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 08:09:14 PM
I love the Xplorers look. It makes me look like a 80's synth queen  :supergay
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 23, 2008, 08:27:25 PM
I don't know basses much, but as far as I know guitar amps can sound very muddy with a bass, and I would imagine the equalizers are not really suited to the frequencies of a bass.  Something like what you posted should do well.

I would get a little solid state amp like the one you linked rather than a tube amp to start with.  You have to replace tubes every now and then which is just an added hassle.

That cable will work fine.

Sorry, I don't know a good online source for lessons.  Have a look around the net and post some up here if you like, we can let you know if they look OK for what it's worth.

Edit: bear in mind I know squat about bass amps and I have been looking for all of five seconds, but something like this might be better - the effects loop, headphone jack, flexible EQ are all nice.  You might get a wider range of sounds out of it too which is good when you're still trying to figure out what sound you want.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-MAX-110-Bass-Combo?sku=481447

Bildi, I'll respond to your post a little later.

Sweet.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 08:31:41 PM
I found these amps that are cheaper and higher rated on MF:

Amp 1 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Ultrabass-BXL450-45W-1x10-Bass-Combo?sku=481100)
But then theres this that is way cheaper and has higher reviews (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-MAX-126-Bass-Practice-Combo?sku=481459)

Also plan on getting this tuner (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Korg-CA30-Chromatic-Tuner?sku=210527)


As for lessons, i've been watching these short videos by this guy:

This expert dude (http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/2271_bass-basics.htm)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 23, 2008, 08:42:08 PM
I'd go with the cheapest little Peavey you linked.

Since you aren't sure yet what you're doing, it's cheap, small, and will always make a great little backup for use at home.  Personally, I've used Peavey's for ages and they're tough (almost all amps are though I imagine).

Whatever you buy is going to end up as a second amp, so I'd get something that doesn't take up too much room and is super-cheap.

Just had a quick look at those vids.  Again, I'm not a bass player but his hand positions looked good and since that is pretty much the most critical thing when learning, I'd start with his stuff.

Also, because the right hand has a bit in common with classical guitar, I'd say try to keep alternating consistently between your index and middle fingers on your right hand.  Be careful not become a one-finger picker or become inconsistent (for example, index-index-middle-index-middle-middle or some other random stuff should be avoided where possible, try to keep a consistent i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m no matter what strings you're moving between, unless of course there's a pause in the music in which case you can start again on your index finger for example regardless of what finger you used at the end of the previous passage).
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 08:48:08 PM
Yeah I've been trying to use my index + middle alternating like you said, I,m,I,M.

The weird thing is I already know how to slap, albeit not that great. A few years ago I watched this live video of John the Fisherman like literally 10 times a day, so I picked up alot from Claypools playing.  :lol

Thanks for the advice btw. And my electric/acoustic guitar days aren't over! I just figured bass would help me with a launching point.  :-*
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 23, 2008, 08:54:44 PM

Hope you enjoy the bass - the world certainly needs more bass players so if you like it, go for it.

This is true. All we need now is a drummer!
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 09:08:27 PM
It's too bad drum sets cost a fucking fortune, because I love drums.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 23, 2008, 09:13:59 PM
Maybe you should buy and learn the drums too. And when you master that (should take 3-4 weeks max)  you can move on to singing or playing keyboard.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 23, 2008, 09:18:21 PM
I love lamp.


:)

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 23, 2008, 09:34:34 PM
Maybe you should buy and learn the drums too. And when you master that (should take 3-4 weeks max)  you can move on to singing or playing keyboard.

 :lol Be nice. He's just enthusiastic.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 23, 2008, 09:44:48 PM
Maybe you should buy and learn the drums too. And when you master that (should take 3-4 weeks max)  you can move on to singing or playing keyboard.

:rofl  You're such a cold bitch, mayne.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on June 24, 2008, 08:00:53 PM
Fuck, that's a long post.  So what is your story Powerslave?

And make sure you leave your zipper open while you tell it.  :-*


I'm wearing shorts right now so no zipper, I'll just pull em down.....there.


My story is short. I got interested in guitar after some years down the road while listening to Metal and finally got one after holding it out for too long. I started with learning some of the beginners lessons on various websites, like strumming chords and such, but dropped that completely after discovering tabs. So now I just try to play easy parts of songs I like. I also discovered the fun of playing videogame music on guitar, as geeky as it sounds :P

But I'm facing a lot of difficulties. Alternate picking is a mess and I play a LOT better when I just use downstrokes. It feels as if the pick gets 'caught' on the strings when I alt pick (I'm not even doing alternate picking, economy picking is more like it).
I got in a ditch when I realized I anchored my pink/ring fingers on the guitar and worried that I were developing a bad habit. Right now I just switch between anchoring and letting my hand loose above the strings. It also helped a lot when I realized I could just rest my hand on the strings, but this becomes hard when I want to play on the E and A string. I can't tremolo pick on A, on E I do ok. I'm sure you see that I'm trying to play above my level, which is dumb, but I'm too stubborn to get back to entry level shit.
Lately all I'm doing is playing the same things over and over again (I have fun in doing it) while I should practice more on other things via online lessons.

However I just bought a guitar book the other day titled Rock Guitar Manual:
http://www.learntoplaymusic.com/US/product_info.php?products_id=1794&osCsid=2a904a9f5c3b


I went to a big-ass bookstore and checked out quite a few books they had on the subject and this one seemed an ok one to begin with. This is the type of music I'm the most interested in at the moment so getting a book that also learned you play a bit of jazz/blues was out of the question for me. It has a bit of music theory in it as well. Now the only thing left for me to do is get started on it...
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 24, 2008, 08:25:27 PM
I did all those video lessons....now what :( :(


Guess I have to find a teacher in this barren wasteland known as New Hampshire :/.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on June 24, 2008, 08:33:07 PM
Thanks for the info, I love reading about what others are up to.

Picking has always been my biggest challenge on electric.  When I started electric, my left hand was OK because I'd played classical for a long time beforehand.  But my right hand was only good at fingerstyle playing, not picking, so I had this imbalance in terms of technical ability of my two hands.

That's probably a big part of why I favoured legato-style playing.

So yeah, this is something I'm working on too because I'm a bit tired of it being a limitation.  I'm tackling it by doing alternate picking exercises while watching TV, but I'm pretty slack so it's a slow process.  I'm not bothered though - the great thing about guitar is that there's always something new around the corner to keep me interested.  :)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 26, 2008, 09:25:13 PM
I pretty much accomplished my only goal with bass; to play the begining of "Hey" by the Pixies. I'm so happy. Sure it sounds like shit and I cheated using tabs, but it's just so awesome :D

I'm loving it so far though. I need to get real lessons from a real person though. Too bad it's hard to find good bass teachers up here.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on June 26, 2008, 09:43:02 PM
Good stuff. And I still personally don't think tab is cheating. Are you finding it easy or difficult to pick out the notes by ear?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on June 26, 2008, 09:55:48 PM
Well that's the thing, I don't have an amp, so I can't really tell what half the notes are.  :lol The few that I can, i've gotten right so far - like F Sharp I believe it is being sustained in the begining of "Hey".

I love it though, so far atleast.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 08, 2008, 04:15:41 PM
So a little update, im still loving it. Learned a few new songs, like Debaser by Pixies, Scarlet Begonias by Sublime, fine tuning Orange Crush,  and Sunshine of Your Love.

It sucks learning them all through tabs, but atleast i'm putting in the effort to fine tune them by ears. I really need to find a Bass teacher, but I don't think that will happen until atleast September :(.

Still need to learn Slap and Pop. I've been trying but can't perfect them so :(.

Maybe soon I can "write some tunes" using bass....riiiiiight.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on July 08, 2008, 04:48:58 PM
Good to hear you're sticking with it. Did you manage to pick up an amp yet?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 08, 2008, 04:52:07 PM
yeah I picked up an amp and a tuner and a jimmy buffet strap a week ago. Paid way over price for it ($130 for a shitty amp) but I was tired of just fucking around and not getting any real sound out of it.

I kinda want a new bass now  :lol
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on July 08, 2008, 08:53:20 PM
Glad to hear it's going well.

Looking forward to pics of your impending bass collection.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 08, 2008, 09:39:40 PM
Might as well start with the first :P

(http://i36.tinypic.com/t7yasg.jpg)

Buffet Strap is best strap ever.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on July 08, 2008, 09:57:29 PM


Buffet Strap is best strap ever.

 :lol  I have a cowboys and indians one that a friend gave me that's so tacky, it never saw the light of day.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 08, 2008, 09:58:49 PM
I probably shouldn't tell you how much I paid for that strap then  :'(

spoiler (click to show/hide)
$25
[close]
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on July 08, 2008, 10:04:45 PM
I probably shouldn't tell you how much I paid for that strap then  :'(

spoiler (click to show/hide)
$25
[close]

Hehe, I'm not hating yours, it just reminded me of that fateful Christmas when I opened it. It looked like the pattern was drawn by a sweatshop kid (as it may well have been). You've never seen such a horrible misuse of colors. I wish I knew where it was, I'd take a pic.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 08, 2008, 10:08:50 PM
It sounds awesome. Hope you find it one day :D
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on July 08, 2008, 10:27:07 PM
I have a black strap for my black guitar and a white strap for my white guitar.

Sometimes my imagination just runs rampant.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 08, 2008, 10:33:50 PM
Like Townshed said, dress to kill.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Brehvolution on July 08, 2008, 10:52:12 PM
I miss playing real guitar. I played for 13 years but....

Ever since my first was born, I stopped playing. It was always "Tooo loud". :'(

That was 8 years ago.

I had a 24 fret Fender Strat Deluxe with a crackle black on blue finish and a wonderful yet small Fender 70 watt amp. I ended up selling both. :'(

2 years ago my wife bought me a nice Fender acoustic for xmas. I've played it 3 times. :'(

Once my kids get older, I'll get back in. You don't forget how to play, but your fingers do forget the stamina. :'(

 Keep Rockin' dudes!!
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 22, 2008, 03:45:28 PM
I've been looking into new basses since I accidentally dropped mine onto the hardwood floor and the second string doesn't sound good anymore, plus the plastic casing over the fingerboard is started to scrape off which is gay for a bass guitar only what a month old.

Oh well, atleast I think i'm pretty decent at bass, which counts right? Pretty soon I want to start looking for jam buddies then eventually a band! But I want to be the band leader cause I want to make up the name and the cd and everything.

:( So, any of you good chaps who helped me before want to help me with the first "real" bass I should get? :O
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on July 22, 2008, 04:55:44 PM
That's a tough one for me, haven't really payed much attention to base in the last few years. I'm pretty sure one of the guitar magazines just had their 2008 buyer's guide out, so if you hit a magazine rack or bookstore you should be able to find it.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Stereo on July 22, 2008, 06:36:32 PM
Are you happy with the sound and feel of your current bass?  Squire/Fender share the same build specifications, so if you're happy with that instrument then looking at a Fender Precision of some sort as your starting point would make sense.  I've spent most of my time playing J basses so I can't give you more advice.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 22, 2008, 06:38:10 PM
I think I do. Note that I have no clue what i'm doing with the EQ settings, but I try to match up the sound with the few Pixies songs I know (Hey, Monkey, etc etc) and it sounds pretty damn good. I think the next thing is to get a full scale bass, as I accidentally bought a short scale, not knowing :(
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Stereo on July 22, 2008, 06:53:19 PM
There's not really a great deal of difference, strings with less tension sound less clear, but short-scale basses are easier to play. 
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 24, 2008, 10:22:22 PM
Soooo I made a short little ditty in the span of like 10 seconds just improving it, and I was high, so I hope you enjoy it:

I couldn't figure out where to put it to upload, so I made a fake band myspace and you all can just listen to it from there:

http://www.myspace.com/josereyesstolemygirl

it'll be up there sometime tonight or tommorrow
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on August 26, 2008, 08:17:40 PM
I miss playing real guitar. I played for 13 years but....

Ever since my first was born, I stopped playing. It was always "Tooo loud". :'(

You know you can get one of those pocket amps right? Or just use headphones via your amp.

Once my kids get older, I'll get back in. You don't forget how to play, but your fingers do forget the stamina. :'(

Yeah I've been playing again after a break for a week and my fretting fingers got tired fast.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on August 27, 2008, 02:41:14 AM
http://www.myspace.com/josereyesstolemygirl

it'll be up there sometime tonight or tommorrow

That's a great riff - I think it could form the backbone of a pretty neat song.

Yeah I've been playing again after a break for a week and my fretting fingers got tired fast.

Finger more things during the week.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 27, 2008, 09:51:39 AM
Thank you!  :D
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Powerslave on August 27, 2008, 10:34:25 AM
Man I play so goddamn sloppy. I can never play the same thing twice perfectly.


Finger more things during the week.

ok I'll finger anything that comes in my way from now on
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 27, 2008, 10:40:06 AM
sometimes my finger because its so fucking fat messes it up (as you can hear in that little clip) and I still have problems adjusting and speeding up the frets when im not looking

Man I need my new strings RIGHT NOW :(
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on August 27, 2008, 02:07:27 PM
Cool riff, Methodis. Bildi is correct. You could make a cool song out of that.

Man I need my new strings RIGHT NOW :(

If you don't live too close to a music store, buy two sets so you have a spare on hand.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 27, 2008, 02:26:53 PM
I live like an half hour away but was too lazy to get them, so I ordered them from Guitar Center last Friday, should get them fuckin tommorrow :(

And thanks :D
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on August 27, 2008, 06:48:33 PM
ok I'll finger anything that comes in my way from now on

Good man.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 28, 2008, 10:20:22 PM
My new strings are amazing. Love em.

Also do you guys have any reccomendations for a good set of headphones? I was stupid and thought any regular pair would fit in but I guess I need a special kind
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 20, 2008, 04:06:37 PM
So just a little update  :D

Been getting better, just been trying to speed up my picking/fingering so that I can get up to like, YYZ speed (which I can't :( ). Other than that, been working on some interesting "riffs" (I guess they're called) and trying to write songs, but I suck at the latter :(

Anyone here write songs and want to give me one to try to work around? :D
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on October 22, 2008, 09:32:12 PM
http://www.last.fm/music/Jose+Reyes+Stole+My+Girlfriend/_/Steal+This%2C+Mang?autostart

Watch out, it's just bass and loud audio form a shitty mic on my pc, so it's not direct line.

Anyways, that's the new "thing" i'm working on. That little clip is just the main riff, with improv's all around :D


I think i'm getting better!
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on October 22, 2008, 09:37:50 PM
:lol That sounds distinctly psychedelic.

I look forward to hearing more.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on October 22, 2008, 11:35:56 PM
Good stuff, Methodis. You do sound like you're getting better. :rock
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Tauntaun on October 23, 2008, 01:01:04 PM
Oh man, everyone who wants to learn guitar solos needs to download Guitar Pro. You can find it pretty easily on BitTorrent. It makes learning solos so much easier as opposed to just reading tabs. You know how when you're reading tabs, sometimes you see a phrase printed out, and you try to play it, and you're like "what the fuck?" With Guitar Pro, you can actually hear a midi version of those whack looking phrases being played, so you know how that shit is supposed to sound.

Guitar Pro is awesome, I got it earlier this year.  Is great for learning songs and also composing your own songs. :rock
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on October 23, 2008, 05:28:49 PM
I think the problem is that I always practice while sitting down. Maybe I need to practice everything while standing up so that I'll be playing from the same angle I play at live.

I have the same problem, sometimes you just gotta hike the guitar up to uncool heights.  John Petrucci does and he even has those two boxes either side of his pedalboard that he puts his foot on, particularly during something hard.

[youtube=425,350]t25AOSxZZkI[/youtube]
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on October 24, 2008, 12:26:31 AM
Yeah I recognize im kinda fucked playing standing up. I can't tap for shit on it :(

And yeah, Guitar Pro for life
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on October 31, 2008, 02:45:56 PM
So last night I bought a microphone...and it came with a headphone converter! Yes! So now I can hook up the V-Bass that muckhole gave me (<3) directly line in...and I did it...and came up with this little riff in a few seconds :D

http://www.last.fm/music/Jose+Reyes+Stole+My+Girlfriend/_/A+Dark+Night+in+Shea+Stadium?autostart
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on October 31, 2008, 06:26:33 PM
Cool little riff. :rock
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on November 01, 2008, 01:47:33 PM
Awesome. I hope you're having fun messing around with the V-Amp. Keep up the progress.

:rock
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: CaptainCommando on November 01, 2008, 11:30:32 PM
I have very little time for my guitar these days, but I learned mostly through really simple tabs (http://videogamejam.com/) and then more complex stuff through using Guitar Pro.  I also started with a cheap shitty guitar (De Armond) and now I have a Japanese ESP-GR Eclipse that I had modded.  Keep meaning to pick up a Pod but haven't gotten around to it.

http://www.cyberfret.com/chords/chord-finder/index.php <- great web app for finding chords, like when you find chord txt files for songs you like but don't know wtf "Bsus4/Eb.." is supposed to be.  There are also some basic guitar lessons and stuff there - I think it'll also teach you tricks like pinch harmonics and whatnot.  I also found Youtube tutorial videos can be pretty good (just youtube "how to" and the guitar trick).
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 27, 2008, 08:50:17 PM
I'm up north with no bass, but an old acoustic guitar, so I took it and made a little instrumental folk song  :-[ It's pretty bad, but I like the chorus rift I somehow pulled out of my ass, which surprised me since i've never done anything more on an acoustic than try to play Stairway to Heaven once in 8th grade.

http://www.last.fm/music/Jose+Reyes+Stole+My+Girlfriend/Second+Base/Strange+Times+Are+Ahead+(Instrumental)

mupepe I don't have my bass gear with me right now but i'll grab you that rift asap :(. Stupid college break.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on November 27, 2008, 08:59:43 PM
http://www.last.fm/music/Jose+Reyes+Stole+My+Girlfriend/Second+Base/Strange+Times+Are+Ahead+(Instrumental)

Cool. BTW, the last bracket in your link isn't part of the embed, so when you click on it, it says song not found.

mupepe I don't have my bass gear with me right now but i'll grab you that rift asap :(. Stupid college break.

Are you referring to the bass riff for muckhole?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 27, 2008, 09:09:15 PM
wow i'm distinguished mentally-challenged, I don't know why I would ever mistake you for that distinguished mentally-challenged fellow. My bad muckhole.  :lol
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on November 27, 2008, 09:11:33 PM
Awww, be nice. I'd have no problem being mistaken for Mupepe. Just thought it was funny.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 27, 2008, 09:17:20 PM
I <3 mupepe, so calling him a distinguished mentally-challenged fellow was a compliment, in the way you'd call wilco a jew.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on November 27, 2008, 09:22:58 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on December 05, 2008, 04:17:03 PM
Mini jam, with even more bad audio <3. This is like the second time I ever really bass jammed to a pre-set music track.

http://www.last.fm/music/Jose+Reyes+Stole+My+Girlfriend/Second+Base/Jam-a-lamb-a



I really want to be good at bass, I need to plunk down on lessons in the future. Can't wait.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on December 05, 2008, 06:46:27 PM
I've decided to pick up the electric guitar again - hopefully it lasts longer that the couple of weeks it usually does.

I was listening to some Dream Theater and got a bit inspired.  Also had a friend and former student come visiting and we had a fun jam which got me in the mood.  I dragged out some old Dream Theater music and looked up a couple of tricky bits to practice.  In about three years I should have them mastered. :'(

Methodis - I tried to play the track but it said "no content".  Is it still there?  It could just be this computer though.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich on December 05, 2008, 06:55:28 PM
Awesome thread, I'm in. Just picked up the guitar again after a couple of years (been playing synth on-and-off with a friend's band). I picked up a second-hand ibanez rg350dx and a zoom PS-02 palmtop studio for amp emulation and stuff.

I know like five chords and read off tabs for practice.  :dur
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on December 05, 2008, 07:04:18 PM
You're a guitarist too Arbys?  Cool, the eb guitar fraternity continues to expand.

:rock
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich on December 05, 2008, 07:07:46 PM
I wouldn't say I'm a guitarist :-[, I just picked it up again after a couple of years of just not caring about it. Hopefully I actually learn shit this time.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on January 31, 2009, 03:05:55 PM
So after ignoring my 5 string ofr a little bit I decided to just jam and came up with this on a spur of a moment. I really like it and want to work it further. Watch out, it's just raw audio (my roommate still have my mixers cables :( ) and alot of experimentating. I hope you guys like it as much as I do:

http://www.upload-mp3.com/pfiles/55779/mycatbuddy.mp3

starts out with me getting the tempo right then picks up.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Propagandhim on January 31, 2009, 04:46:53 PM
So after ignoring my 5 string ofr a little bit I decided to just jam and came up with this on a spur of a moment. I really like it and want to work it further. Watch out, it's just raw audio (my roommate still have my mixers cables :( ) and alot of experimentating. I hope you guys like it as much as I do:

http://www.upload-mp3.com/pfiles/55779/mycatbuddy.mp3

starts out with me getting the tempo right then picks up.

Not bad, kid.  I play a little bass myself.  This is me just toying around.  [youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha0ESJIIDFg[/youtube]
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on January 31, 2009, 07:02:30 PM
If you wete actually victor wooten i'd e-rob you  :lol
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on February 01, 2009, 01:07:55 AM
It's a cool riff, I look forward to hearing if you develop it into a song or something.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on May 29, 2009, 10:21:01 PM
Do you guys still mostly stick by your initial advice guitar wise? Thinking of picking one up this week.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: drew on May 29, 2009, 10:23:45 PM
(http://www.upload-mp3.com/pfiles/55779/mycatbuddy.mp3)

WIKKID RIFF DOOD
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on May 29, 2009, 10:27:44 PM
You said my riffs were terrible anyways so why would you want to look for more  ???
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: drew on May 29, 2009, 10:28:38 PM
what?!

ive never even heard you play!
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on May 29, 2009, 10:31:15 PM
It's not worth hearing those now a days anyways, I like to think i've become much better  :lol
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 14, 2010, 06:57:05 PM
I am bumping this because I want au pdate from everyone!


I am still decent at bass, but I have been homing my guitar skills also so now I can atleast jam in a key and not sound like ass! I want to record somethings soon so look forward heheh.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: T234 on November 14, 2010, 07:25:18 PM
Your goal:

[youtube=560,345]h53va2AIuYU[/youtube]
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 14, 2010, 07:33:01 PM
god damn that was really good. thats one of those pieces of music you listen to and don't realize it's 6 mintues long because it feels like 1 minute.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Tauntaun on November 14, 2010, 11:31:15 PM
Got me EZDrummer and the expansion Drumkit from Hell.  :rock   Trying to get my riffs down with some drums and maybe create some good death metal.  I'll post songs when they are there.  Keep rocking my fellow guitarists!

:rock


:tauntaun
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Dickie Dee on November 15, 2010, 03:04:14 AM
Trying to learn as many Doc Watson tunes (however poorly) I can atm:

[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VAbrnjdtYw[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7MwW3JuEOY[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUQmNGLvL3U[/youtube]

:bow Doc Watson :bow2
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Tauntaun on November 15, 2010, 08:37:13 PM
I'm learning the second guitar part for this song.  The solo is giving me problems but I'm getting better at it as I go through it over and over and OVER again.  :rock

[youtube=560,345]mesr2siegRg[/youtube]
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 17, 2010, 11:49:36 PM
I made something im really proud of on guitar only problem is im so bad I can't get it to sound good :(
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on November 18, 2010, 12:10:09 AM
Your goal:

[youtube=560,345]h53va2AIuYU[/youtube]

I also learned everything outside of those solos because yeah. It's pretty fun othewise. Anyone know any good books for soloing?

God I need to fix my bass before I become a guitarfag
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on May 27, 2011, 07:17:07 PM
boreguitarists


i am at a lost I am trying to compose a song but I don't know what to do next. Right now my chord progression ends at a D7, and I need to make it a little bit happier and higher tone wise anyone got any reccs
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Dickie Dee on May 27, 2011, 09:53:53 PM
boreguitarists


i am at a lost I am trying to compose a song but I don't know what to do next. Right now my chord progression ends at a D7, and I need to make it a little bit happier and higher tone wise anyone got any reccs

I can't believe I unignored you over this.

The obvious answer is that D7 wants to resolve to G...other than that and not sure what your song is, I'm not sure what you want or expect anyone to say.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on May 27, 2011, 10:03:25 PM
oops I forgot to say I don't want it to resolve to a G, I want it to reoslve to something else because it starts with a G, aka i'm trying to find 4 more that go along with a D7 hopefully without Bb or F
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on May 27, 2011, 10:04:51 PM
Right now it goes:

G, D, C, D7

I need 4 more that work off the D7 at first without sounding harsh. I do not know much guitar theory so I am just trying to figure it out
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 31, 2011, 12:24:34 PM
I wrote a song today, I will share it with you guys hope you enjoy

http://soundcloud.com/tc2001/herbert-the-pervert

i adlibbe dit entirely, so the lyrics are made up on the spot same with the song which is why you have the F chord go on for 8 bars, but I figured you'd enjoy it

it's called Herbert the Pervert
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: muckhole on August 31, 2011, 05:26:05 PM
I need to listen to this again tonight when I can turn it up to hear what you're saying.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 31, 2011, 06:45:09 PM
it's a mix i accidentally left the iphone right next to me strumming the electric but I also had it amplified in the background
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on August 31, 2011, 07:36:13 PM
lyrics:
herbert youre a pervert/but no one likes you much/ its understandable, unrehensable/ that you even exist in our world
herbert the pervert/ what can you see/ i love you and you love me

herbert the pervert/herbert the pervet/ why don't you see youll get fucked on a treec
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Bildi on September 01, 2011, 06:46:00 AM
I played along to it. :rock
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 01, 2011, 02:54:47 PM
 :-[ awesome
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Cormacaroni on September 02, 2011, 02:57:11 AM
[youtube=560,345]ifp_SVrlurY[/youtube]

really, no-one should even play the guitar again after this
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Brehvolution on September 02, 2011, 04:12:30 PM
[youtube=560,345]bVmq2C5kLoM[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]FiK3LOWgYQ0&NR[/youtube]
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 07, 2012, 09:50:25 PM
hey i have a tumblr with all my bad pieces of work that I do on it. i just updated it with a little thing i made

http://avastyecaptain.tumblr.com/

everythings real bad produced and rough takes from a ipod or lining into my pc via several interfaces that aren't really DAW interfaces. but if you like cheesy bad sounding music then I think i'm ok at it. :)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on September 07, 2012, 10:51:09 PM
Posted in here 4 years ago and haven't touched my guitar at all in that time. Gonna tune it and change that this weekend. :maf
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 07, 2012, 10:52:06 PM
I play every few days. And the video game Rocksmith is great at keeping me motivated and learning how songs were made. can't rec it enough especialy now it supports bass (for $30)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on September 07, 2012, 11:02:41 PM
I only have an acoustic guitar. I'm just gonna go through this thread and and use all the beginner stuff that everyone linked to you.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 07, 2012, 11:13:16 PM
ya. i still need to buy a acoustic, I bought all new gear the past two years so now I have:

(http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/attachments/guitar-owners-clubs/17135d1297883846-mim-standard-strat-club-10.jpg)
(http://images.gibson.com/Files/e40a4cb3-63da-42a1-9e3a-96b9c519a836.jpg)

as for amps I use
(http://musicstoreinc.com/products/images/mustang2_01.jpg)
(http://www.musicstoreinc.com/products/images/bxl3000_01.jpg)

kinda wish i didnt waste $400 on that bass amp, never use it. it's great and the EQ is cool but it's a pain to set up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgYKK0TPxdQ

theres me doing a bass cover of sitting on the dock of the bay in RS
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on September 07, 2012, 11:34:28 PM
Goddamn, you really did turn into a gear junkie!

Just tuned my guitar with the help of an app called gStrings. Step 1 complete. :)
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on September 08, 2012, 03:41:19 PM
THL, what beginner tutorials and shit did you use?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 08, 2012, 03:46:12 PM
justinguitar.com I think it is, otherwise I just looked at tabs of songs I liked and learned the basic chords - D, C, G, E, A and their respective minors and just experimented. Can't stress how good Rocksmith is though if you have a 360 or a PS3
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on September 08, 2012, 03:56:41 PM
I got no cash to burn right now, but thanks.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on September 08, 2012, 04:33:53 PM
ya just look up tabs and use justinguitar then is wat i'd suggest
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Cormacaroni on September 08, 2012, 11:59:07 PM
It is ridiculous how easy it is to learn songs with youtube tutorials these days. When I were a lad, down t'mines, I had to rely on my shitty ear and occasional tips from my neighbor (who had perfect pitch). Tab books were unheard of. When I went to see bands, you could tell all the guitar players in the crowd 'cause they were staring at the guitar players left hand, trying to figure out the fingerings. Once in a while, you'd be able to buy a guitar mag that had tab from a song you actually liked!

Now, it is literally just go to youtube, type song name and 'guitar' and boom, some nerd will walk you through the whole damn thing, as many times as you need. Amazing.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 02:42:05 AM
i'm getting back into the game.

i need a new acoustic. my current acoustic is shit and always sounds out of tune.

I'm going for an ebony one.

http://www.amazon.com/Epiphone-DR-100-Acoustic-Guitar-Ebony/dp/B0002D02J4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420357136&sr=8-1&keywords=epiphone+acoustic

These sound beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiVHrpCxevw
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 10:42:02 AM
That makes no sense. Ultimately, a music instrument is a music instrument. And paying premium price will not make you a better player.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Rufus on January 04, 2015, 12:43:44 PM
No, but buying a bottom shelf piece of shit might actually de-motivate. Granted, the big brand's entry level stuff can be quite good, even when it's made in China. Maybe not acoustics though, I don't have much experience on that end.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 04, 2015, 12:44:04 PM
I always laugh when I see a beginner playing a guitar that costs a multiplier more than what I paid for mine.
People like to say "But the action makes it easier!" Yeah, it sorta does, but unless the action is so terrible you can't actually push down you'll be fine and probably better off learning to play on something with bad action. I've seen plenty of guitarists that only learned to play on guitars with impeccable action turn to absolute rubbish when faced with even just average guitars because their fingers have been pampered.

I play a custom Yamaha CG series which cost just a few hundred dollars and I've had people with hand made guitars that cost them thousands think mine was just like theirs. If you're starting virtually 80-90% of beginner guitars will work for you.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 01:11:06 PM
No, but buying a bottom shelf piece of shit might actually de-motivate. Granted, the big brand's entry level stuff can be quite good, even when it's made in China. Maybe not acoustics though, I don't have much experience on that end.

There's a line between picking up a POS and a decent starter instrument. You can pick up a good starter guitar for 100-200 from known brands. 500 - 1000 for a beginner seems excessive.

Now that's the guitar. Now if we are talking about saxophones or trumpets or flutes we are in a totally different ball game.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Rufus on January 04, 2015, 01:19:45 PM
Yup.

Or electric, where you're better off paying more for an amp than for the instrument.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 01:32:56 PM
I want to get back into saxophone again but I'm starting with acoustic guitar first.

And look at these prices.


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/saxophones/yamaha

When I'm interested in playing again I plan on going with this.

http://www.samash.com/band-orchestra/saxophones/selmer-as711-prelude-alto-saxophone-gold-lacquer-sas711xxx

Luckily, sax is such an easy instrument I'll get back into my groove within a few months.

But guitar...I may need lessons to get back up to speed. Luckily there are 20 dollar guitar lessons nearby. Which is a heck of a lot better than the community college acoustic guitar class I took where I didn't learn a single song and just played chords. What an awful fucking teacher.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 04, 2015, 01:33:03 PM
Yeah with an electric you'll want to spend the money on the amp instead of the guitar.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 01:40:56 PM
God I miss playing music so bad. Why did I ever quit? I played for 10 years, dammit.

I should really order that acoustic and get to playin.

Shame I'm already taken but do guys find girls who play music sexy? :-*
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 04, 2015, 01:43:27 PM
stop teasin', start playin'
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 01:45:46 PM
How do I find musical camaraderie as an adult? I guess a band would be ideal. I love playing in a group. But it seems that doesn't happen as an adult unless you're a professional or play music at gigs or something?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 02:03:06 PM
What sucks the most is that the two styles I want to at the most: flamenco and jazz on guitar and highly limited to impossible on an acoustic. Guess there's always blues or folk.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 04, 2015, 04:42:01 PM
I'm going to go with acoustic first and then those when my skills up to par again.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 05, 2015, 02:58:14 PM
How do I find musical camaraderie as an adult? I guess a band would be ideal. I love playing in a group. But it seems that doesn't happen as an adult unless you're a professional or play music at gigs or something?
I've had serious issues with that. It was easiest in college. Loads of players so you could have a pick so there's plenty people around your level.
It's been a dearth for me after college.
It doesn't help that there's not many people that play classical guitar but after college the level of talent is all over the place.

I love playing in guitar quartets but I've practically given up on it because the last time I played with a guitar quartet after college it was like this:

- Me
- A long haired rocker guy who was really into shredding and was a studio musician. He could shred but could just barely play classical guitar. He wasn't very good.
- A knee surgeon that suffered from such stage fright that performing with him was just out of the question
- 2 guys that were at best intermediate players.

I'd like to have a group of all top notch guys, but I've not been able to find anyone. I've been thinking about polishing up a concerto and seeing if I can find a community orchestra to play with or something. But I can't find one.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 05, 2015, 03:04:23 PM
Really miss the camaraderie and competition of band class. Beating someone in a music duel of who can play the best and getting first chair always felt so good.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 05, 2015, 03:04:56 PM
What sucks the most is that the two styles I want to at the most: flamenco and jazz on guitar and highly limited to impossible on an acoustic. Guess there's always blues or folk.
You mean steel string instead of classical? Because there's tons of jazz for the classical guitar and flamenco is practically exclusively on classical guitar.
You might want to check out Baden Powell btw, seems right up your alley.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 05, 2015, 03:06:43 PM
Well, I know that flamenco is played on its own guitar.

I guess I'll start with acoustic first, get good at that, and then later pick up a classical guitar?
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 06, 2015, 01:44:19 AM
Personally, I think everything a steel string acoustic can do a classical can do better.
And really I see no real reason for the steel string acoustic.
Yes, the classical guitar has a wider neck and bigger frets. But if you're going to be doing flamenco, or brazilian jazz, you're going to need that space. Plus it's always easier to compact things down than to learn on a smaller neck and frets and then try to learn to use all the space you have.

I started on a steel string acoustic and really I should be more greatful to it, but I've since fallen completely out of love with those. The action is almost always too high, you don't have enough room, the strings and the tone are too harsh and you can't get nearly as much expressiveness out of it even compared to an electric guitar, let alone a classical guitar. I know I'm way in the minority on this, but that's my ardently held view. If you're serious about acoustic music, drop the steel and go nylon.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 06, 2015, 02:00:42 AM
Will the nylon still be capable of playing traditional folk songs like on acoustic
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 06, 2015, 10:44:08 AM
It's good enough for Willie Nelson.
I will say, as I stated before, that the neck is wider and frets are bigger. It's made for more complicated finger work. You can still strum and do folksy stuff, you just have a bit further to reach for the chords. Go to your local music store and ask them to play one and then play a steel string.  You'll see the difference. In my experience, it's far easier to play folk stuff on a classical guitar than it is to play classical/flamenco stuff on a steel string.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 06, 2015, 10:50:04 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L2HjE6ER0P0

He plays the same songs on both nylon and steel. The results are interesting.

I think I may go with classical guitar after watching this :obama  but I loved the sound of the acoustic with the second song.

Decisions, decisions.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Beezy on January 06, 2015, 11:12:47 AM
One of the tuning pegs on my steel string acoustic has been fucked for a while. I don't think it would be expensive or hard to fix, but now Puppy is making me think of selling it or giving it away and picking up a nylon string guitar again someday.

I need to stop slacking and practicing again also. I'll stick with my electric for now.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 06, 2015, 11:15:13 AM
I'm going with nylon.

:obama

Is this good?

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-C40-GigMaker-Classical-Acoustic/dp/B000W75PTC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1420560930&sr=8-7&keywords=classical+guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz9wCa-YiOM
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 06, 2015, 11:41:55 AM
I love the CG series. Like I said I personally play a custom CG series.
Great guitars and the lower end is pretty cheap.
I am way biased, but I love love love Yamaha's CG series.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 06, 2015, 12:17:53 PM
Is this classical guitar?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ILhJCr60A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMrhEr7b9-M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVqh7uiDgK4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85lqcryJAtY

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 06, 2015, 12:24:22 PM
the first and last are definitely steel string
The middle two sound more like nylon.
Dimension Break is totally a nylon string

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSmkHMrNFpc
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 06, 2015, 12:41:56 PM
:whoo

BUYING NYLON

NO EXCUSES

BUYING NYLON

:whoo
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 06, 2015, 01:09:13 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mlYjBN1bm8

flamenco on classical :whoo

beauty

Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: kick51 on January 07, 2015, 09:11:59 AM
getting stuck on Minuet In G for 3 days in your hal leonard book feels bad  :'(

i can play it fine on my own.  i just want to be able to play it with the CD, so i don't become that guy who can show off on his own but can't play in rhythm with a band for shit.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 07, 2015, 10:57:43 AM
I bet you're one of those people who only play or like rock on guitar.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 07, 2015, 11:19:04 AM
What exactly is the issue? You play too slow? Too fast? Or you're all over the place?
Here's the thing, I've tried playing to CDs and it's way harder than playing with people unless the CD is of the other instruments.
I don't know why but it is way easier (at least for me) to take cues from your accompaniment than from someone playing exactly the same piece as you. I think it's because you're paying too much attention to what needs doing instead of where the rest of the music is.
I personally gave up on it entirely.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 07, 2015, 11:27:53 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mlYjBN1bm8

flamenco on classical :whoo

beauty

:zzz
To be fair, that was pretty pretentious and boring.
I'm more of a fan of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EU_r8kabtI
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 07, 2015, 01:39:17 PM
I don't even care how that guy is playing. I posted it for the beautiful sound of the instrument. I'm looking for a guitar to play music, not posting music I like.
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: I'm a Puppy! on January 07, 2015, 01:52:49 PM
You know, I look down on Tarrega quite a lot, and call him a shit composer.
But I did play this today (nearly 2 decades since I played it initially) and it wasn't terrible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06GVrYP6NKs

Puts me in the mood to try this Caprico. But this one (unlike Tarrega) you can't just sight read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXECXCmkprY
Title: Re: The Learn2Play Guitar Thread
Post by: Himu on January 07, 2015, 02:20:38 PM
I am in love with classical guitars warm sound. LOVE.