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Post subject: New to guitar playing
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:56 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
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Hi everyone, just another noob here! Just yesterday I did what I told myself I was going to do since I was a kid; to finally try and learn how to play guitar, so I bought me a beautiful Squier Strat in black sunburst! I just turned 36 so I kinda procrastinated this one for many years and it's kinda embarrassing to not even know how to strum a few chords at my age. But now I'm ready to learn and motivated as ever! :mrgreen:

Considering I come from a family of musicians, it's kinda weird that I am the only one that doesn't play anything. My dad plays guitar, my sister plays the piano, and my uncle was an accomplished musician back in the 80's and now is a string instrument master luthier for the past 25 years (his guitars are amazing). I really wish I tried to learn 20 years ago. but here I am just over the 30's hump so I guess it's not too late to learn. Can't wait to build some calluses on my fingers, they're really tender today from all that "playing" I did yesterday. :)

Pics coming soon!

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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:54 pm
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Congratulations & welcome. Are you going to take lessons or just try to teach yourself ?


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:49 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Muff Diver wrote:
Congratulations & welcome. Are you going to take lessons or just try to teach yourself ?

I'm gonna try to teach myself by buying instructional books and/or DVD's. So any recommendations are very much welcomed.

Ok some bad news already. Earlier today I tried to plug her to the amp it came with and no sound came out. I double checked everything and then figured out that the problem was a defective pu selector switch. So I went back to best buy and exchanged it for another one. I come home an the first thing I do before tuning it is to plug it to the amp, and once again no sound! So I mess with the cable and find out there's poor contact with the guitar output jack. The only way to make it work is by not inserting the plug all the way in. I can live with that I guess.

It's really saddening how a prestigious company like Fender would outsource to China and in return the quality becomes sub par. Sure this guitar pack was only $200 at best buy, so the "you get what you pay for" line fits perfectly, I don't expect to stay in tune for more than a day, but I do expect the electronics to at least work properly!

But it's cool I'll deal with this and when I'm ready I'm gonna buy one of my uncle's handcrafted beauties!

Here's a pic.
Image

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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:47 am
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Welcome to the world of music ! Stick with it and you'll have something that will give you enjoyment for years to come.
Gibson Learn And Master Guitar Course is probably the best overall home course on the market; you should check it out.


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:33 pm
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SexyGibson wrote:
Welcome to the world of music ! Stick with it and you'll have something that will give you enjoyment for years to come.
Gibson Learn And Master Guitar Course is probably the best overall home course on the market; you should check it out.


Thank you! I can't put the thing down already! My left hand fingers are begging for mercy but that's not stopping me from practicing. One day hopefully I'll be able to nail one of those insane John Petrucci solos lol!

And thank you again for the lesson recommendation. I searched for it and found out that they also have a FREE learn and master app for iPhone! How cool is that!

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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:25 pm
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I also have the stop dreaming start playing combo pack. I got the one with the 15 watt amp and the black/white Squier. So far no problems with mine. I also have to second the suggestions to get Gibson's Learn and Master Guitar. My daughter and I are both using it, and like you I waited till later in life (41) to start. I know it's a little on the expensive side but EVERYTHING is top notch and professional. This program will take you from never picked up a guitar beginner to a very good intermediate player. Reason I say intermediate is you are always learning, but with this system you WILL learn to play if you put in the time and learn the lessons. And Steve is an awesome teacher. He really seems to connect with you through the DVD lessons and the support forum is awesome as well. I know I sound like I and trying to sell this to you but I want to tell you that I am in no way affiliated with Steve or Legacy Learning and I don't get a dime if you buy it. I just wanted to let you know I (and many others) think it worth the money. You can also check out the Learn and Master Guitar Student Support Forum without purchasing. Hope this helps you some and enjoy. We have a long but exciting road ahead of us.

Jeff


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:44 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
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lunatech1 wrote:
I also have the stop dreaming start playing combo pack. I got the one with the 15 watt amp and the black/white Squier. So far no problems with mine. I also have to second the suggestions to get Gibson's Learn and Master Guitar. My daughter and I are both using it, and like you I waited till later in life (41) to start. I know it's a little on the expensive side but EVERYTHING is top notch and professional. This program will take you from never picked up a guitar beginner to a very good intermediate player. Reason I say intermediate is you are always learning, but with this system you WILL learn to play if you put in the time and learn the lessons. And Steve is an awesome teacher. He really seems to connect with you through the DVD lessons and the support forum is awesome as well. I know I sound like I and trying to sell this to you but I want to tell you that I am in no way affiliated with Steve or Legacy Learning and I don't get a dime if you buy it. I just wanted to let you know I (and many others) think it worth the money. You can also check out the Learn and Master Guitar Student Support Forum without purchasing. Hope this helps you some and enjoy. We have a long but exciting road ahead of us.

Jeff


Thanks for the link! Yes I'm seriously considering buying that DVD set. It's also cool to see someone else who bought the same pack as me. I think it's not bad at all for $200. I'm thinking of having it professionally set up. I raised the action a bit today and
the low E and A strings still buzz like mad. Still won't stop me from practicing!

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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:47 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
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I think the amp it came with is decent enough. The problem is with the guitar jack. I barely use the amp since I don't wanna annoy the neighbors haha!

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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:12 pm
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Hey, I began playing when I was 42 and just got back from Iraq. Actually I had played when I was 14-15, but then broke four bones and 2 fingers on my left hand playing ice hockey. I got home and bought a Mexican Strat and a Champ.

I tried for a few months to go online, and to do all those things, watch videos, read TAB, (Actually I could read music when I was younger) but I seemed to be getting nowhere. A friend of mine that has been playing for over 40 years, and works as a studio musician and a recording engineer told me flat out... "You need to take lessons, from a pro. Those books, and videos and all that cannot give you feedback on your playing. You need to sit down with another person with a guitar, and have them watch you, and point out mistakes, or explain things to you better." He said "there is no substitute for actual experience."

So, I went back to the school I took lessons at over 25 years ago and signed up for half an hour lessons. My first lesson my teacher sat with me, asked me what I knew, I played some chord progressions, and played some other things. He had me play all the chords I knew, and name all the strings. After the lesson he said, "Go and get Mel bay, Guitar Vol 1, without the CD.

So each week we'd work on a topic and then he would ask me "What songs do you want to play?" I told him that I wanted to learn the solo from "Walking the floor over you." By Ernest Tubb, played by Leon Rhodes. He told me to bring in the CD or an MP3 and the next week I did, and he listened to it twice, and wrote it out for me on paper, then we played it. The next week he had me play it for him again, and then we began to work on the chords.

Within three months of lessons, I had learned 5 songs to play from memory... Also I had learned to finger chords differently. You can learn a lot online, but no program, no video lesson is able to respond when you say, "Can you show me that again, slower?" Or will tell you, "Try to make an A this way..."

Randy Rhodes was known to take lessons all the time, because he said, "There is always someone that can show you something new."


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:54 am
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@JerL231: I can see your point on taking lessons from a good instructor and we (my daughter and I) probably will someday. But for right now the Learn and Master course is serving our needs really well. Problem is there are no know guitar instructors close to us (closest is 45 min away) and being we home school we have to pick and choose what we budget.


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:31 am
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I understand about having to watch every dime.

Then do yourself a favor and buy the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method book Volume 1. The book is pretty cheap and you don't need the CD or DVD. It will teach you to read music, and help you learn by playing simple songs, and some duets. There are no TABS in the book. It's all music notes. It will teach you the notes on each string in the first position. Starting with E and working up to E. It will introduce you to chords also. As you finish the book, there are other volumes to start.

A good next step would be to buy The Beatles Easy Guitar book. That gives chords and notes for many of The Beatles hits, and you and your daughter can take turns playing either the chords, or the notes and switch back. I say the Beatles book, because their songs are so well known. When my friends 12 year old son was learning to play he and I would sit on the porch and play Beatles songs together once a week. I played a Telecaster and he played a Samick accoustic.


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:19 am
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I'm new to this! I'm a techie. 55 years old. I'm living alone (except on weekends when my daughter comes home). My wife died Aug 30th and I can devote some time to this without annoying any one.

I bought a Fender Strat a few years ago and never really messed with it to much. I know I will have finger tip problems and I'm thinking some lighter strings will help me with that. I also wondered about tuning down a half step to ease the finger problem.

Am I asking for trouble by decreasing the tension on the neck?
What gauge should I look at on my strings?

I'm wanting to start by getting a few supplies and setting up my guitar. (I'm good at this sort of thing and studying it and I'll be careful. Any tips will be appreciated) Right now I'm watching: Fender Stratocaster Setup Part 1 of 9: Introduction on YouTube.

Before I start lessons I thought I should at least learn some scales and chords... Is that wrong? I'l be checking out that book and maybe visiting the local teacher. I'm not sure how to know if the guy is a good teacher or not... one of my favorite guitarists is David Gilmore and I'll be watching some of his lessons. Joe Walsh has some and I think Billy Gibbons has some.


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:31 pm
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Welcome and congrats!

It's never too late to begin. There are guys 20 or 30 years your senior that are finally beginning. Something that they, like you, had always wanted to do. Just don't get discouraged. It takes time, but one day it will all begin to fall in place to a degree. (you will think at times that it never will) I've been at it for over 50 years and still feel discouraged at times, then realize that I am having fun, regardless of my ability, and can actually make music and that's what really matters. Just try to have fun and stick with it.

You might want to check out the Squier Talk forum, a very active and nice forum with a lot of info. A lot of nice guys, as well.
http://www.squier-talk.com/

There is a reward at the end of the hours of practice and sore fingers. :)


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:50 am
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Visit you-tube..... type in the name of a song you like, with "lesson" behind it... tons of guys giving lesson stuff up there...


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Post subject: Re: New to guitar playing
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:07 am
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I've found several good videos. I ordered the aforementioned book, maintenance kit, and some Rev. Willy's .007 - .038's.

I don't have a real amp. I have my stereo and a little toy practice amp. I don't know what to get. I have a Korg ToneWorks AX100G. It works but it quits after you change it a lot and you have to reset it. I wondered about a Guitar Rig 3 or 4 it shows it with speakers hooked directly to it and no amp. Does any one here know about it?


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