beginner guitar question

Wilco23 · #1 09-10-2007, 01:07 PM

(hope this is the right forum for this)

i'm looking to pick up the guitar and learn to play. do any of you have any recommendations for books, dvd's or websites that would be a good starting point? i have a friend who's going to help me pick out a good acoustic guitar to buy.

any help is appreciated.

stormstarter28 · #2 09-10-2007, 01:11 PM

when you're learning chords, chordfind.com is a good site to learn how to play pretty much every chord known to man. I would also recommend buying an uber-cheap guitar to start off with, then if you decide to get serious, invest in a quality instrument. There's no sense in spending several hundred dollars on a starter guitar, especially if you quit within a 6 months.

Jbrochu · #3 09-10-2007, 04:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I would also recommend buying an uber-cheap guitar to start off with

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. Don't spend a fortune, but know playing uber-cheap guitars sucks and might actually frustrate you enough to make you quit.

Taso · #4 09-10-2007, 04:10 PM

^This is true, but in general, as a beginner you need not spend more than $200 on a guitar/beginner package, until you are sure you will stick with it.

Go to www.guitarnoise.com and post questions in the forum there, great community there that I have been a part of for 4 years now.

SGspecial · #5 09-20-2007, 02:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would also recommend buying an uber-cheap guitar to start off with

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. Don't spend a fortune, but know playing uber-cheap guitars sucks and might actually frustrate you enough to make you quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT b/c I just saw this thread. Buy a good quality (not top notch) used guitar that looks like hell but plays like honey. If you're smart about it you can get one for <$300 and if you give up or upgrade later you can sell it for almost what you paid, or even make a profit.

AceLuby · #6 09-20-2007, 02:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would also recommend buying an uber-cheap guitar to start off with

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. Don't spend a fortune, but know playing uber-cheap guitars sucks and might actually frustrate you enough to make you quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT b/c I just saw this thread. Buy a good quality (not top notch) used guitar that looks like hell but plays like honey. If you're smart about it you can get one for <$300 and if you give up or upgrade later you can sell it for almost what you paid, or even make a profit.

[/ QUOTE ]

One word: craigslist

Got a $500 electric accoustic for $300 w/ a hardshell case.

davebreal · #7 09-10-2007, 02:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
(hope this is the right forum for this)

i'm looking to pick up the guitar and learn to play. do any of you have any recommendations for books, dvd's or websites that would be a good starting point? i have a friend who's going to help me pick out a good acoustic guitar to buy.

any help is appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

the absolute best begginers approach is to focus on rhythm training by doing different strums in time with your right hand. a metronome can be had for under $15 and will help with your right hand training.

do not worry about trying to learn fancy chords at first. do not attempt to learn Stairway to Heaven. this will result in deadends, lacking in music fundamentals, frustration, and probably a short guitar playing interest.

you can attempt a beginner's primer video, but even those might be too complicated.

http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Play-Acousti...9874&sr=1-1

any other questions, let me know.

slothinator · #8 09-10-2007, 02:52 PM

The "Stairway to Heaven" comment is a great point. Learn to actually play the guitar before you start learning to play songs. There is a difference. I have met so many people who can play tons of songs note for note, but can't just pick up the guitar and play in a free for fall jam session. It's because they don't really know what they are playing; the songs are just a collection of notes to them. Don't be that person.

xoom · #9 09-10-2007, 03:06 PM

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It's because they don't really know what they are playing; the songs are just a collection of notes to them. Don't be that person.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm that person. I've been playing guitar for three years. How do I fix me?

slothinator · #10 09-10-2007, 03:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It's because they don't really know what they are playing; the songs are just a collection of notes to them. Don't be that person.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm that person. I've been playing guitar for four years. How do I fix me?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not much of a teacher, but I have few ideas. Learning music theory would be a good place to start. And not just chords and scales; learn what makes them up,how they work, and how the two work together. Someone else mentioned learning rhythm patterns with a metronome. Great suggestion. Same thing when practicing scales. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to learn and play other people's music when you understand music theory; the pieces "make sense", so to speak.