DCK Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 The last year or so I've started listening to good music (before only being a pop nitwit of the worst kind), and I've gained a liking to the (electrical) guitar being inspired by players like Johnny Frusciante, The Edge and Kurt Cobain to name a few. Basically I want to go beyond the air guitar and want to learn how to properly play the guitar. As I seem to have stranded in some musical middle of nowhere (absolutely none of my friends or relatives ever touched a guitar it seems) there's nobody to teach me anything, however. Professional lessons are way too expensive for me, and there aren't many in my area anyway. I've been noticing a lot of you are in bands or playing guitar to some level, so could you give me tips on where to start? My research has come up with a starter kit, the Ibanez GRX40 (which is a good brand right?), which comes with a complete set of accesories including an amplifier, and it's decently priced. Any opinions on that?
AshMat Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 Pick it up, twang the stings, put it down, buy drums.
Cube Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 1. Get a Guitar 2. Get an amp or whatever for it (if electric) 3. Mess about with it - the best way to start something new is mess about with it before doing anything like checking manuals/guides/whatever 4. Get a cheap book or simply a guitar magazine to help you 5. If you want to continue, get a proper book on playing the guitar 6. Consider lessons at this stage.
Wesley Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 For your first guitar don't worry about it's quality. I payed 130 quid for my first bass, amp, case, books and tuner. The bass was rubbish. But buying a crap one is safer than buying a decent brand's low budget instrument to then not like it much. As for learning to play guitar... I can't be bothered to go into loads of detail right now I'll post again soon. Link us to the product page.
Shorty Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 Ibanez is fine to start with, you've got two roads. You can teach yourself, download tabs, just practice properly, read some tutorials or whatever - or watch someone and copy them. If you take that road its just down to practicing properly and you'll improve if you have the motivation. Or take lessons, you'll probably learn some music theory that way and be able to write your own songs sooner. You'll learn faster but obviously it costs money and can turn it into a chore instead of hobby. Tbh I didn't bring my guitar to uni, I've got bad motivation so I'm probably not the best bringer of advice
DCK Posted February 20, 2007 Author Posted February 20, 2007 So messing around really is the best tactic? Okay... Thanks for the replies guys, keep them coming Link us to the product page.I would have, but Ibanez has this site which loads the content in a frame. If you look in the guitar section on their website, you can find it down below as GRX40J under Jumpstart. Or take lessons, you'll probably learn some music theory that way and be able to write your own songs sooner. You'll learn faster but obviously it costs money and can turn it into a chore instead of hobby.Had those in high school, my school made a point of everybody learning to play the recorder. I was genuinely crap at playing, absolutely terrible I know some theory however, and I can read music, so I won't have learn that.
The Bard Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 Don't treat it as a hobby, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it, and you shouldn't really need a teacher to start off with, you can teach yourself the basics pretty easily, or I can teach you...but as for later, only you can know what direction you want to take your playing in. What kind of music do you want to play? If you want to play nothing but indie then that guitar is perfect for you, but I would definately go for something more diverse. I play Metal, Classical and Blues and the best beginner guitar for me by far was the Cort X2. It's great and it's only £150 or thereabouts these days...after 2 years or so you're gonna want to move to something more advanced, and build up to buying your ideal guitar, which in my case was the ESP DV8-r. That guitar you're eyeing is a waste of good money, at least in my opinion. One thing that I would like to stress about practice is that it doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent. So make sure what your practising is correct. Good advice from the last time someone decided to create a thread like this
Oli1983uk Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 I have been toying with the Idea for ages about getting a guitar and learning to play not sure to go for either a electric or not.
Monopolyman Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 Well, if you want my advice, I'd get some lessons; at least to start you off, anyway. Learning to play guitar is quite fustrating at first and you may find you stop playing. If you have a few lessons under you're belt, it can keep you on track in you're playing, and you obviously learn the fundamentals a lot faster and more efficently. But if you don't want to pay for lessons, well, I suppose you just need to keep at it. Force yourself to play a little for 30 days straight around the same time each evening, and you'll never put it down again. Also, start trying to play songs as soon as possible.
The Peeps Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 I bought a guitar a few days ago, been learning online but it's hard work.
mcj metroid Posted February 20, 2007 Posted February 20, 2007 i believe for guitar you don't really need lessons.Sure it helps but you can still be good without them
Hellfire Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 I also want to start, so I just mess arround with an old acoustic guitar I have lying arround, I read some tabs, I see some online lessons. I'm not taking it very seriously, it's for kicks, I just don't feel like investing too much time in it. Maybe when I have the money to buy an electric guitar, I'll get more pumped up. BUt I play some 15/30 minutes every day I play some chords and read some tabs from musics I like and try them out. But if you wanna go at it seriously, you really should start with lessons, so you don't pick up bad habits.
Fields Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Why does everyone want to learn to play the guitar? Because it's 'cool'? Be different and learn to play the fucking banjo or something.
MoogleViper Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Why does everyone want to learn to play the guitar? Because it's 'cool'? Be different and learn to play the fucking banjo or something. Maybe some people want to learn to play the guitar because its "cool". But its one of (if not the) most popular instruments in music today. If someone likes indie, rock, metal, punk etc. music then its likely that they will want to be able to play it themselves.
or else you will DIE Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 1) Don't buy lessons / a tutor 2) Buy books or simple google search on how to play - learn basic chords, scales, notes on fretboard etc. It takes time.
Strider Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Well i started playing on my bros crappy acoustic and then i decided to buy and electric. My guitar lives next my computer, so when i'm waiting for something to download i'd just pick it up and have a mess. That is how i started, then i went on to reading tabs and playing those (Very easy when next to the pc) and i just went on from there. Once you get the basics you just sort of find stuff out yourself over time. My first guitar was a Squier Strat, now ive got a epiphone Sg (but i don't like it) so im after a ibanez
DCK Posted February 21, 2007 Author Posted February 21, 2007 OK, I think I might give it a try by myself So what do you guys think of the guitar (scroll down to find Jumpstart GRX40J in "Electric Guitars" for that) I'm interested in? Good starter?
Pit-Jr Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Pick it up, twang the stings, put it down, buy drums. Ha! Thats the same approach i took.
mcj metroid Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Why does everyone want to learn to play the guitar? Because it's 'cool'? Be different and learn to play the fucking banjo or something. its one of the cheapest instrument,Easiest to play...well lets face it you dont even need sheet music for it...and most peoples fav rock songs are played on guitar.
The Bard Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Why does everyone want to learn to play the guitar? Because it's 'cool'? Be different and learn to play the fucking banjo or something. Learn to play banjo just for the sake of being "different?" That's the most fucking pretentious thing I've ever heard. People pick up guitar because thats the instrument most of the music they listen to centers around and because starting guitar is cheap and accessible. Good luck trying to find a cheap banjo, or any real way to learn the instrument. Think before you type, jackass. its one of the cheapest instrument,Easiest to play...well lets face it you dont even need sheet music for it...and most peoples fav rock songs are played on guitar. Easy to learn, near impossible to master.
Wesley Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Why does everyone want to learn to play the guitar? Because it's 'cool'? Be different and learn to play the fucking banjo or something. Because it's one of the most commonly used instruments in Western music.
mcj metroid Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Learn to play banjo just for the sake of being "different?" That's the most fucking pretentious thing I've ever heard. People pick up guitar because thats the instrument most of the music they listen to centers around and because starting guitar is cheap and accessible. Good luck trying to find a cheap banjo, or any real way to learn the instrument. Think before you type, jackass. Easy to learn, near impossible to master. oh i agree but you know yourself people learn to play guitar to be able to play their favourite songs.i mean crap like nirvana are among the first songs you learn on guitar.How long do you think it will take for you to be able to play elton john , billy joel or ben folds on piano however?in ben folds case a long long time. Why does everyone want to learn to play the guitar? Because it's 'cool'? Be different and learn to play the fucking banjo or something. also what coult you play on banjo?super mario athlectic theme from smash bros?One half of deliverence?
Fields Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Learn to play banjo just for the sake of being "different?" That's the most fucking pretentious thing I've ever heard. People pick up guitar because thats the instrument most of the music they listen to centers around and because starting guitar is cheap and accessible. Good luck trying to find a cheap banjo, or any real way to learn the instrument. Think before you type, jackass. Once again The Bard demonstrates his complete lack of sense of humour, and his inability to produce an argument without resorting to childish insults. Congratulations.
harribo Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 Once again The Bard demonstrates his complete lack of sense of humour, and his inability to produce an argument without resorting to childish insults. Congratulations. No for once he is right and I agree with him. I feel dirty saying that.
Jon Posted February 21, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 There really isn' t any need to get lessons, you can teach yourself all you need to know, plus the wealth of knowledge on the web far out weighs any a teacher could give you. You have to be pretty dedicated though, you can't just pick it up 10 mins a day, it needs to be at least an hour or so, which can be hard when you're finger sting like fuck and you still can't get any sound above a cat orgasming. Still it's totally worth it in the end.
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