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Post subject: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 2:06 pm
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Location: Cody, Wyoming
Hi Folks,

I have a Fat Strat and the desire to learn to play Rock lead guitar. The learning tools that I have is GarageBand that come with my Mac and a software application called Rocksmith.

I know that everyone may have a personal choice on what you used but I have these two products and would, at least for now, stay with these two.

I know a little about playing because I started for about 5 months and then had to stop for 6 months. So my knowledge is limited as you can understand.

Thank you for your help and I look forward to hearing you input, especially if you have used both of these products...

Harry


Last edited by harryglos on Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:00 pm
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Hi Harry, I think youtube is about the best place to start, almost every iconic solo / riff will be dissected, and plenty of pro's with lessons / tips, good also to record yourself and listen back, start with simple basic lessons hammer on, pull off, trills, bends, vibrato, double stops etc etc, and enjoy.


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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:50 pm
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If you're just starting out then there's two pieces of advice I can offer.

  • Play all day every day. Play until your hands hurt and you can't play any more. Without practice you will learn nothing. If you're not prepared to put in long hours and all-day sessions then you might as well sell your guitar and find something else to occupy your time. No one ever got good without putting the hours in.
  • However old you are when you started playing, you should have started several years earlier. Sorry but that's a fact.

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:08 pm
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May I suggest you start here and learn the things the proper way :mrgreen:

http://playtheaxe.com/index.html


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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:40 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
If you're just starting out then there's two pieces of advice I can offer.

  • Play all day every day. Play until your hands hurt and you can't play any more. Without practice you will learn nothing. If you're not prepared to put in long hours and all-day sessions then you might as well sell your guitar and find something else to occupy your time. No one ever got good without putting the hours in.
  • However old you are when you started playing, you should have started several years earlier. Sorry but that's a fact.


+1 !!

But, it's also important to try and decide what your goals are.

Do you want to play for Friends? In a Band? Make a Living at it? Each of these has it's own requirements, some greater, others not so much.

Career, Family and such can put demands on your time which may not allow you to progress as fast as you like (everyone wants to be a Clapton overnight). :roll:

Don't be discouraged, stay the course and in time you'll see the rewards. Try to learn one new thing every week... really learn it.

I'm not too keen on YouTube or Internet programs which people think can shortcut them into a skilled player... These can be good tools, but are no substitutes for putting in the time.

Think how many minutes in an hour these programs can consume as you work the program, wait for it to load, etc. Each minute that takes you away from actually plucking the strings moves you further away from your goal.

I'm almost 2 years in, never played any instrument before. I'm waay better than 20 mos. ago, but nowhere near where I want to be. It can be frustrating at times, but I stick with it and play whenever I can because as GilgaFrank alludes to, there are no shortcuts. 8)

Best of Luck !

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:57 pm
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Ear training
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Theory
Play with others until you get good.
Talent. Mostly talent. Everything else us just plunk plunk plunk until your wife or kids tell you to turn it down or off.

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 5:38 pm
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This is an area that some guitar lessons could come in handy. But -- regardless of an instructor -- here is EXACTLY what you need to do if you are serious about doing this:

1) Write out the A minor pentatonic scale for the entire neck.
2) Practice this scale in each position all the way up the neck.
Note: This is where lessons can really help, as the teacher can show you the proper fingers you should be using. Each finger is assigned a fret, so make sure you are using all FOUR fingers. Do NOT get into bad habits by not using your pinky!!!!!!
3) Once you can play the scales cold all the way up and down the neck, then start playing melodies by skipping notes, repeating notes, etc.
4) Go back to step 1 for A major pentatonic -- which is basically the same as A minor, except it has a few more notes added in. Repeat steps 2&3 for A major. This will go very fast if you have the A minor down really well.
5) Once you know all the A min and A maj pentatonic scales, start moving the scales around for C, D, and E. This is easy, but still needs to be practiced. Again, a teacher will come in useful here.
Note: Once you get to this point, you will have a HUGE arsenal to play lots of lead.

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:56 am
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harryglos wrote:
The learning tools that I have is GarageBand that come with my Mac and a software application called Rocksmith.

I know that everyone may have a personal choice on what you used but I have these two products and would, at least for now, stay with these two.

If you really want to stay with GarageBand and Rocksmith ONLY as learning tools, you might not find too much help here with that. I would guess the majority of the players on the forum started playing way before those programs were even available. Sorry I can't be more help than that, best of luck to you, playing guitar is the best! :D

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:21 am
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This is a great little lesson from my favourite bass player, Yolanda Charles. Helps you think about syncopation and getting the hands on autopilot while you do backing vocals. I'm always amazed at the number of musicians who can't do this simple thing ...


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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:45 pm
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Here's some very sound advice given to me two years ago by Vince Guidro, Owner - New Orleans Guitar Co. - makers of some of the finest and most beautiful guitars anywhere (someday I will own a Voodoo Custom !!) 8) :

" Jim... I think it's great that you're getting into this after having to put it off for so long, because it's not about how good you are right now, it's about the experiences that you garner just being in the mix.

Playing music is about the discovery. Don't get too weighed down with the theory and the math, music should be intuitive... this is about having another voice to convey what you're feeling regardless of the genre of thoughts.

Guitar players in particular seem to focus on the solo work but all too often forget that this is a rhythm instrument.

Focus on your timing, put down the picks, use your fingers, and just get used to how a guitar/s feels and responds to touch, focus on your right hand as much as your left. It doesn't matter so much about what kind of guitar that you're playing as much as what you do with it.

I understand the whole GAS thing, and that's cool,..and if I wind up building you a guitar sometime, that'd be great because I like to help people down this path,.. because it's a very rewarding dynamic thing, this music thing...but just keep in mind, these are just tools...very precise musical tools... just enjoy the process of music..."



I think that's pretty damned good advice for any new player ! :)

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:29 pm
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Wow what great responses,

Thank you one and all for your helpful information. I'm starting with the guitar late in life and is something I've always wanted to do. Rock n Roll has always been my favorate style of music and to listen to so many of the fantastic sounds generated by a guitar and then be able to reproduce it is thrilling.

Maybe "thrilling" for some is overdoing it, but that's how I feel when I work to get something right and I do... Thrilling to me is exactly the word and I want to learn as fast as I can with equal importance of doing it right. I don't want to sail through "learning to play right" and then have to try and undo all I've done wrong.

I really appreciate your thoughtfull consideration with the information you've shared with me. It is truly nice to know you're out there willing to help. Please never forget how important you are!

Harry


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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:43 pm
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Good for you Harry! You are playing an electric guitar of your own. That is a thrilling thought! Have fun learning! :D

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:22 am
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Try not to just play by yourself, make friend with people who know more than you, they'll teach you what you need to know.


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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:47 am
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The only thing I will add to all the great advice given above is don't quit. Even if you feel frustrated at times, stick with it. Persistence pays, and talent is 98% perspiration.

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Good for you Harry! You are playing an electric guitar of your own. That is a thrilling thought! Have fun learning! :D
+1, I just had a wave of nostalgia wash over me. Guitars still turn me on, but there is nothing quite like the thrill you get in the beginning.

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Post subject: Re: Help with learning the guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:36 pm
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Location: Cody, Wyoming
My thanks to all of you... This is all wonderful stuff and I've read each of your posts a few times now so I remember!

One thing is for certain "I will not quit"! I see people all the time of all ages and revel at how they play. It's great to see because it tells me all over again as SpaceWolf said "Persistence pays, and talent is 98% perspiration"!

I know that is true because nothing I ever became good at was easy. Sure, some were easier than others but the guitar gives me gratitication because I know I'm better today and will be even better yet tomorrow. My wife says "yes honey you just keep telling yourself that! :) I never liked her!!! :wink:

Thanks a lot folks,

Harry


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