Guitar beginners
bianchimoon
Posts: 3,942
As i've decided to make better use of my spare time other than riding the bike, i've decided (as millions probably have before me, and fallen by the wayside) to buy a guitar and strum and pick.
My first guitar many many years ago (pre internet) was a waste of time as I couldn't afford lessons as a kid, so wasn't really going anywhere. As there's so much info out there on line lessons, tuning apps etc hopefully the path will be a little easier. Chosen a Yamaha F310 as a beginners guitar, seems to be a decent make with the right characteristics to learn on. Anybody been through the same process then gave up or continued and actually learnt to play some tunes that sounded half decent?
My first guitar many many years ago (pre internet) was a waste of time as I couldn't afford lessons as a kid, so wasn't really going anywhere. As there's so much info out there on line lessons, tuning apps etc hopefully the path will be a little easier. Chosen a Yamaha F310 as a beginners guitar, seems to be a decent make with the right characteristics to learn on. Anybody been through the same process then gave up or continued and actually learnt to play some tunes that sounded half decent?
All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....
0
Posts
It goes without saying that practice, practice, practice is the key to progressing and your choice of guitar looks fine for a beginner. Personally, as strange as it may seem, the acquisition of a guitar stand was key to enabling me to practice effectively. Rather than having the guitar stuck upstairs in "the music room", I had it on the stand right next to "my" chair in the living room. Picking it up for just 10 minutes, 5 times a day is better than two 2 hour stints a week in my experience. Having it to hand makes it so much easier somehow.
As far as lessons go, I would be tempted to have them two weekly. Life means that it isn't always possible to get in the necessary practice between lessons if they are weekly but two weeks apart and it seems more achievable. Lessons are also a great way to measure your improvement. I had a great teacher which helps.
Appreciate your comments, have got a stand with it so will take your advice and keep it handy to annoy the other half
*insert band of choice here...
- @ddraver
Also, like bikes and cameras, its difficult to buy a bad guitar these days.
Actually, that's a very good point. I was once told that, when learning something, you should play so slowly that you never make a mistake and that seems to make a lot of sense. (I was also told to play until your fingers bleed!)
Not quiet bleeding, but sore as hell after just 15 mins of basic chords, as expected gonna take a lot of work to make a clean chord change.. a chord change at speed will be in another lifetime methinks
Just keep going it will come, the pain also goes as your fingers get used to it.
unfortunately I don't actually practise much.
Another useful tip - I first taught Bomp Jr the basics when he was about 7, now he's 17 and a grade 8 classical guitarist who can play more or less anything after hearing it a couple of times - but most of what he picked up along the way he got from youtube: there are gazillions of instructional vids there, and lots of actually quite good ones.
yeah, amazing how some of the 'tutors' on youtube you gel with straight away and know you can follow within 30 seconds an amazing free resource i try to make sure i click the links or watch the ads so they get something back
I switched to piano 4 years ago, and found it a lot easier. I can now play quite a bit, reasonably well - I think you have to find the instrument that suits you.
The first time you play a song around a campfire and everyone joins in will be your own personal glastonbury and you'll never forget it!
- @ddraver
Hey, you'll love my mix of wishy washy paul simon, john denver, neil young and David Gilmour, and if you can tell em apart you get a prize. Front row tickets to my first gig on their way to you!!
If I didn't live in the middle of no where, I would get lessons so youtube is my tutor but it has it's limitations.
More of a bass player myself but I had the same problem with the left pinkie (legacy of most of my life spent playing rugby!) but I found using a tennis ball to strengthen my fingers a good trick.
As well as copying tabs from YouTube there is a download guitar tutor called. 'yousician' that I have heard nothing but positive things about.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for that, have downloaded it and will give it my best shot - cheers
What you are experiencing here is the guitarists version of rule #10!!
Stick with it, it does improve.
At around this time, I picked up a friend's steel strung acoustic. First I noticed the narrow fret spacing. He was able to put one finger across 2 strings in a way that was impossible for me but allowed him to play certain chords a lot easier.
As an aside, Django Reinhardt had polio as a child and his left hand didn't work very well. You'd think he has 3 hands when you listen to him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQhTpgicdx4
So anything is possible.
PS (I thought he lost his fingers after falling into a fire when he was a gypsy?)
According to Wiki, he did.
According to my Django Reinhardt fanatic friend it was Polio. One of them it telling porkies.
If you are in the Cheltenham area, go visit John Vickers at Vintage Strings, 88 London Road and hear him play Django. He'd be happy to. The shop is more like a stop and have coffee and a chat than a come and buy stuff place.
Rarely in that area but if I am, I'll certainly have a look. Have you heard Django and The Hot Club de Paris do "Georgia on my Mind"? . . . it's like going on holiday!
This isn't "Georgia" but a good example of Django awesomeness with some interesting footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQhTpgicdx4