Trying to learn guitar.....

[Rob-Raz]

As the title says...trying to learn to play an acoustic guitar.  Lessons aren't really in the budget right now...so I am flying solo...with the help of some youtube tutorials and what not.     Any players have any pointers?

[BlackJamesRackham]

hey bro - i'm in the same boat. trying to teach myself guitar. i play both accoustic and electric. as far as pointers...i would go online and learn some of the scales and practice playing those for 30 to 60 minutes a night. also, look up and learn the different chords and practice playing those as well. i've been doing that, and then i've also started going online to look up songs to play. but definitely start with scales and chords first.

[DAMMAG]

Pick it up every time you have an opportunity and practice. When you practice enough, chord positions that you struggle with now will become second nature.

I think one of the most important things is to make sure your guitar is in tune. Crap playing on a guitar that is in tune will sound OK. OK playing on a guitar that is out of tune will sound crap. If you can hear yourself making progress you are more likely to keep interested. If you are going to play along with songs you also have to make sure you are tuned to the correct pitch for that song, otherwise once again it will sound like crap.

I really don't think lessons are necessary, especially in this online age. Just keep practicing on an in tune guitar.

Damian.

[BillOnBass]

I'm not much of a guitar player (bassist here), but I strum on the acoustic every now and then. 

I recommend starting on an acoustic then moving to electric.  There's nothing wrong with starting on an electric guitar, I just feel that it's easier to "fake" being decent when you throw in all the distortion and effects.  An acoustic serves your basic need as a beginner: learning to play.  You needn't complicate that process (or strain your budget) by worrying about types of pickups, preamps, pedals, amp wattages, etc.  An acoustic guitar, some picks, a few sets of strings, and you're off!

Lessons would be a good idea, live or online.  It will ingrain in you the basics that you'll use throughout your musical life. 

[(|8-)]

This is me (with hair) playing a song I wrote before I took lessons.  It's called, "It's a Good Thing that E minor is One of My Favorite Chords."



About the composition:

This modal composition was inspired by liturgical lute and chant and the folk performances heard near 20th century postal facilities in California. Its limited palette of harmonic resources facilitates its performance by the composer while demonstrating the ability of the guitar to make even simple music seem like more than it is.

This is a few years later after a few months of lessons and then not much else, also playing I song I wrote.



And obviously I have never had singing lessons!

[Sgt. Pate]

I've been trying to teach myself guitar for a while now but my instructor doesn't seem to know any more than I do!   
I'm back at square one again, trying to build calluses.  I have a bunch of material, cord charts and sheet music but the key seems to be consistently in picking the thing up and playing it every day.  That's my problem, I get frustrated and just quit.  I think lessons are what I need for the accountability if nothing else.

Do you have any guitar playing friends who will meet with you and show you what they know?

[Sgt. Pate]

This is me (with hair) playing a song I wrote before I took lessons.  It's called, "It's a Good Thing that E minor is One of My Favorite Chords."



About the composition:

This modal composition was inspired by liturgical lute and chant and the folk performances heard near 20th century postal facilities in California. Its limited palette of harmonic resources facilitates its performance by the composer while demonstrating the ability of the guitar to make even simple music seem like more than it is.

This is a few years later after a few months of lessons and then not much else, also playing I song I wrote.



And obviously I have never had singing lessons!

I LOVE IT!  I think I might even be ready to tackle the EM song!   

[Rob-Raz]

Thanks for all the pointers guys. I think my biggest issue right now is practice time. I have a little 4-yr old running around...and the wife works also...so fitting in the time to practice is my biggest obstacle. I'm gonna keep at it though! 

[Big G]

Have you had any success yet Rob? My only suggestion would be that if you really want to learn, Don't get discouraged and quit trying. It does take a lot of practice unless you are really gifted to get to where your comfortable and think I can play that song without stressing out and throwing the guitar down. I took an interest in music and started playing around with instruments 27 years ago (13 years old). Then a few years later life came along and music had to take a back seat. I don't feel that I am any better of a musician now than I was 20 years ago. I do think that God given talent has everything to do with your progress. My whole family on my Mother's side is very musical. My brother must have got that gene. He picked up the guitar at 16 years old and by twenty two he was playing for a living. It is in his blood. He is now 46 years old and still plays music to pay the bills. He tours around 9 months a year and has 1/4 of the year off except for some studio work. On the other hand, My Father's side of the family can't play the radio without static. I think I must have got those gene's.

Good luck and let us know when and where your first show will be....

[Rob-Raz]

Progress has stalled......just not enough time in the day.       Won't be any shows here!   Basically just wanted to learn...and be able to teach to my daughter when she gets a bit older. I thought that would be a great bonding thing and she would enjoy it because she is always singing around the house.  Nothing beats the idea of singing and strumming with my little girl.

[Bald Kahuna]

Aloha Rob,

Yes, I'm trying to teach myself and do find that practice every day, even for just a half hour until your finger tips get used to it is best. Lately I haven't practiced what I'm preaching but willo soon.

[BillOnBass]

Alright Rob, since you don't have much spare time I'll go ahead and teach you a secret of the pros  :

G C D

That's G Major, C Major, and D Major.

If you learn those three chords you can play mostly any happy sounding tune. 

[Rob-Raz]

I have heard that before.....similar to this below but with 4 chords.   


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/I1DIgPyxiWU?fs=1&amp;amp;hl=en_US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/I1DIgPyxiWU?fs=1&amp;amp;hl=en_US</a>

[Barry]

What are the four chords? G,C,D and what else? I've heard that before too. My problem is tuning. I have heard of a guitar tuner that changes colors when each string is in tune. Anyone heard of this? Any other recomendations for a tuner?

[Sgt. Pate]

The tuner I use is a Boss TU-3!  Awesome tuner for electric and acoustic electric guitars.  I use it with my Taylor 414CE.