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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:06 am
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i have a mim strat and absolutely love playing it. i also feel playing my acoustic helps with my chops.

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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:58 am
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So Gridlock, you admit you don't know music, that's a fresh approach.. However, likening what I said as a form of "racism" is a bit extreme don't you think. I know a lot of players who learned by ear, but, took the time to learn the basic theory as well. Have you ever tried to play in a band and teach a wanker how to play a song? "Here's where you put your fingers." type scenario? It truly sucks, if you are that type of player, I don't care if you can pick out a song by ear; I don't care if you can play riffs like Clapton all day long. I would not even entertain the thought of having you in the band. If you are in my band and we are rehearsing and I tell you to play a certain chord, or riff in a certain key, I expect you to know what I am talking about, period. If you don't I would throw you a book on theory and tell you, "Read this, learn it and then come back when you can really play."


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:44 pm
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This sounds a bit extreme to me. For one, I know many players on both ends of that spectrum. Of them, I know no guitar player that can play tons of songs, has a great ear to learn things, and DOESN'T know what he's playing or can't read music. Maybe not sight-read like a skilled jazz player, but can read. Sure, there are some that can play a lot and not know what they're playing. Was Dizzy Gillespie or Zappa or many other older guys NOT musicians because they didn't really think about or care "what" they were playing?

Similarly, I've met music TEACHERS that can "read music" and rattle off what's on a lead sheet, and not know how to improvise, can't for the life of them figure out a simple line by hearing it and could never compose a thing. Yet, by your definition, they have the most desired musical qualities.

There can be a middle ground, and most people are in there, or want to get there. I've played for over 25yrs, in various styles, and in a lot of different scenarios. I can play, write, teach, read, my ear is great, I know a ton of songs and riffs from playing so long, and I can sit in cold and jam with pretty much any band and not screw anything up. I can read music, but rarely do because I rarely need to. I know everything I'm playing, and can instanly hit any chord you tell me, in a few different inversions and positions. But when I play them, I'm not constantly thinking about scales and chords and counterpoint, etc. There's a point where you have the be the black belt, forget what you know and just "play". If you have to think, you're not at the level yet, and that's where you want to get.

Yes, you should know chords. ALL of them, and be able to play what YOUR style of music dictates. If a kid love hard rock, does it make him less of a musician if he can't rattle off a flat 5 chord comp? Not at all. He's not a jazz player and probably doesn't care to be. Does it make a jazz player less of a musician is he can't play a fast twangy county lick on his hollowbody? Certainly not. Does it make the kid that's trying to learn a few chords to a song, in his bedroom, so he can play it for his girlfriend. No sir.


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:12 pm
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Well said!

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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:18 pm
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Like everybody has mentioned before, the style of music you play heavily influences your choice of guitar. And, yes, playing an acoustic does make you better, to a certain extent. I know the first time I tried learning to play, a long while back, I started with an acoustic. I was really into the the whole speed thing, as every kid is. I found learning to play an acoustic boring at that age, quite frankly. I guess I didn't understand music and had a very uneducated musical palate at that age. Now that I've gotten a few years older I've learned to appreciate, and actually love, beautiful acoustic picking. But anyways, I wanted to learn how to bend and play all of those bluesy riffs, too. And of course, heavy bending is virtually impossible on an acoustic, unless your SRV!
Also, if you decide to go with an electric, like the MIM, remember your tone is partially your guitar, partially your fingers and playing ability, and part your amp. Remember to pick a nice amp that will last and sounds good. I know so many people, myself included, who have made the mistake of getting an incredible guitar and a junky amp (I was not thinking rationally at the time!). Since you are a beginner, I would recommend something like a Fender G-DEC. It models different types amps, as well as hundreds of changeable effects and settings, as well as a built in tuner and band to play with. You can get one of the cheaper Frontman or generic amplifiers, but the G-DEC is an affordable practice amp that will definitely help make you a better player!

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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:33 pm
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stratattak, welcome to the world of guitar ownership, can't wait to see the pictures!

I thought I'd throw my two cents into this discussion - I decided to learn earlier this year, and had always been under the impression that you HAD to start with acoustic, learn classical first, spend years doing scales, etc. For years that had put me off even starting, because since I didn't start when I was 17 I thought there was no way I would live long enough to be any good during my lifetime anyway. But this year (mid-life crisis), I thought, what the heck, try it.

I wandered into a guitar store and asked about acoustics but was gazing lustfully at the wall of electrics, which was when the salesman told me it was perfectly acceptable to start on electric, in fact some argue that it's easier. He let me hold all different models, but the very first one was a Standard Strat. And then a few weeks later an MIM came into my life, and is now my obsession (hence posting here at 11:24 on a week night).

I started lessons with a teacher who teaches using snippets of classic rawk songs that everyone would love to play (Eruption, Pride and Joy, etc), but uses them to teach technique, and explains the theory as he goes along. Fortunately I already know about music staffs and quarter notes and what "sus" means and etc. from music lessons as a kid. I told him about my previous assumption that you had to start on acoustic and learn classical first, and he said, "Yeah, if you're seven."

And on why Eruption and not Joan Baez - way back many years ago I read an article in the LA Times about why there weren't more women lead guitarists, and the writer's hypothesis (female journalist) was that women only play jingly-jangly folk music because they're afraid of turning their guitar up loud and bothering anyone.

Heck with that. I'm playing Eruption up to 11! Rock on, rock chicks!

<end of testimonial>

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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:53 am
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Personally, 'am not able to think of any type of guitar-capable music which would not be emminently playable on an MIM Stratocaster...

...likely THE finest bargain in guitars.

Personally 'have happily played much, much, much 'acoustic' stuff on one for years, in addition to more traditional electric fare.

Folk, folk rock, old country& western, classical, Latin, Polynesian, Greek, Italian, ecclesiastical, Christmas....


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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:38 pm
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I had an acustic first...I got frustrated and quit for a couple years and then got a really cool Jackson V. I picked up on is fast. I played electric guitars for 3 more years before purchacing another acustic.

What it really comes down to is do you want to rock or strum?

My opinion is it is easier to play on electric guitars. If I had it all over to do again, I still would have started with acustics. If you are able to play chords on an acustic, you will have no problems playing an Electric.

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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:47 pm
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chucksolo69 wrote:
Great, but, no one has really answered the question. They merely defend their position for NOT wanting to learn music.


Dear Chuck
I read music
I play Piano, Guitar, Bass, and the Great Higland Bag Pipes.

Reading music is a great skill and if someone is interested in learning to do so I fully endorse it. However, if a person reads music, that alone doesn't make them a "musician". There is also "the stuff", "the force", "the gut", call it what you will and it is a necessary component in becoming a musician.

I've played with (by your definition) "musicians" who are great with a piece of music in front of them (or with a memorized piece) but are crap when it comes to improvisation.

I've played with (by your definitiion) "non musicians" who, once you decide on what key to "jam" in are an absolute joy to play with.

Many people can read words.
Not many are good story tellers.

It's more than just the notes my brother.

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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:33 am
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mthorn00 wrote:
chucksolo69 wrote:
Great, but, no one has really answered the question. They merely defend their position for NOT wanting to learn music.


Dear Chuck
I read music
I play Piano, Guitar, Bass, and the Great Higland Bag Pipes.

Reading music is a great skill and if someone is interested in learning to do so I fully endorse it. However, if a person reads music, that alone doesn't make them a "musician". There is also "the stuff", "the force", "the gut", call it what you will and it is a necessary component in becoming a musician.

I've played with (by your definition) "musicians" who are great with a piece of music in front of them (or with a memorized piece) but are crap when it comes to improvisation.

I've played with (by your definitiion) "non musicians" who, once you decide on what key to "jam" in are an absolute joy to play with.

Many people can read words.
Not many are good story tellers.

It's more than just the notes my brother.
Could,nt have said that better 8) Mike

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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:56 am
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Quote:
mthorn00 wrote:
chucksolo69 wrote:
Great, but, no one has really answered the question. They merely defend their position for NOT wanting to learn music.


Dear Chuck
I read music
I play Piano, Guitar, Bass, and the Great Higland Bag Pipes.

Reading music is a great skill and if someone is interested in learning to do so I fully endorse it. However, if a person reads music, that alone doesn't make them a "musician". There is also "the stuff", "the force", "the gut", call it what you will and it is a necessary component in becoming a musician.

I've played with (by your definition) "musicians" who are great with a piece of music in front of them (or with a memorized piece) but are crap when it comes to improvisation.

I've played with (by your definitiion) "non musicians" who, once you decide on what key to "jam" in are an absolute joy to play with.

Many people can read words.
Not many are good story tellers.

It's more than just the notes my brother.
Could,nt have said that better Mike


You have said it better than my attempt!!
Thanks!

Gridlok


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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:04 pm
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i couldn't be bothered reading all the posts so i dont know if this has been said yet.

just buy a cheap piece of crap/seccond hand maybe electric or something to practice on and get ur bearings then once you've got ur head around it you'll know what you want in a guitar and you can buy the gat of ur dreams.

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