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Post subject: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:13 pm
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Hi guys. Totally new here at the Fender Forum, I decided to join now that I'm waiting for my very first Strat to arrive, share my guitar story and perhaps get a few pointers and tips along the way.

I'm still very new to guitar playing in general. I'm 28 years old and finally decided to pursue this lifelong dream of mine to be able to play guitar back in September 2012 when I got my first acoustic. A Fender CD60CE Sunburst that I really love playing.

I've always wanted to play both acoustic and electric because they offer such different sounds and options. Now, even though I know there's still loads and loads to learn on my acoustic, I started seriously browsing around for an electric a couple of weeks ago. I discussed it with some people, worried a little bit that adding another guitar would affect my learning curve but the general advice I got was that it could only help me in the long run; some techniques are better/easier learned on acoustic, some on electric and sometimes the change between the guitars can point out bad habits that you hadn't noticed on the other guitar. Then when I got the chance to actually try out a few electrics I knew for sure that I wanted to add one to my collection sooner rather than later.

I've been kind of torn between the Strat and Tele; I like a lot of different styles of music, I like the twangy sound from Teles but I also love the clean crisp sound of the Strat as well as the versatility. And yes, I am aware that Teles are not just one-trick ponies ;) Somehow I finally made up my mind and decided to order a Strat.

I found a nice deal with a Standard Stratocaster (MIM) + Mustang I amp + the Deluxe gigbag from Fender. I already have the amp and the bag but the Midnight Wine, Maple Neck Strat that I wanted was on backorder so I have to wait a few more days to get that. Anticipation is both a wonderful and a torturous thing.

In the meantime I've been browsing more and more places for good information on setup, general tips for the use and maintenance of the guitar, beginner tips and more. Through these forums and the website I found a lot of information on the general way to setup my new Strat when it arrives. I also somehow ended up watching hours and hours of people building their own custom Strat or Tele design electric on YouTube. It's funny; all these things that I don't fully understand about or even was interested in before pull on me like a magnet these days. I want to play more, practice more and also learn more about the instrument itself.

The trouble here is that I sometimes have a hard time sorting through the many different pieces of advice. There's a few things that I specifically would like to know about.

- The volume and tone knobs; I've seen it adviced at some places to just turn them all up fully as a beginner, to not worry about messing around with them as a beginner and just use the amp for any effects I want.
- The whammy bar; to remove it and/or lock the tremolo to keep the guitar in tune and again, just not worry about it as a beginner.

What would those of you with more experience say about these things? Also, if now is not the time to start messing around with these, how will I know when it is? I don't want to complicate things more for myself than neccesary, but I also don't want to end up getting stuck on 'beginner settings' on my guitar, never learning to use it to its full potential.

The same kind of goes for the amp. I don't want to overwhelm myself, getting lost in all the settings, but I do want to learn about them so I'll know how to use it decently. However, when it comes to practicing on a somewhat clean setting, is it any good to go with one of the presets or is it best to start from scratch, play around with the gain, volume, treble and bass to get to a clean tone that I like?

I've been through a whole lot of topics here and I know most if not all of these things have been discussed before, but as I said, I've become kind of lost in the huge maze of information...

Anyhow, it's a pleasure to 'be' here and any help is appreciated :)


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:19 pm
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PATZW...welcome to the forum and guitar playing. The best advice I can give you is just do what you want. Try using your tone knobs...I don't use em much (been playing for 40 years) but that is me, and I don't use the whammy either...I much prefer finger vibrato, but experiment as much as you can until you become comfortable with what you like and don't like, you only have to please yourself!

Not familiar with your Mustang amp, you might try going to the Modern Amp forum and ask that question, you are more likely to get some very specific info there.

Again experiment as much as you like and play with as many people as you can...you are likely to learn something from every one of them. And when the guitar gets to ya, take some pics and post em, we love pics here!

Good Luck

T2

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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:48 am
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As a beginner myself I can relate a lot. Here's my 2c.

I'm a lefty who won't buy a guitar I can't play first, so that limits my options. I bought a chinese tele to start and it was a fine guitar for the price. It would have done me a couple of years at least, but I snapped up a 87 Japanese strat while it was available. Go with what you prefer.

The Strat is a more subtle guitar. Lots of tone and pickup options, but at my level, they all kind of sound similar. When I'm more versatile, the guitar will be. I unscrewed the trem arm, if I come to need it, I'll put it back. You don't need to block or lock it, it'll keep tune just fine.

A Mustang will do a lot of stuff your tone and pickup options do, but as amp presets. It's good to know how your guitar works 'naked' though, as otherwise when you come to buy something like a tube amp, you won't know how to dial stuff in. I bought a really simple amp with no fx or presets. I spend a lot of my time learning with a clean . I'm learning how to play first and foremost. I find too many toys distracting and send me off learning bits and pieces of cool sounding riffs, and not much else.

But what are 'beginner settings?' I saw a vid with the late Gary Moore last night and he was asked how he sets his guitar tone controls, "All the way up". Clearly a man who doesn't bother too much with them, probably left it to his pickups, amps and pedals. There are infinite possibilities between those 3 variables already.

Roy Buchanan (you've probably never heard of him) used nothing but a Tele and a Vibrolux amp, all dials turned up to 10. The things he could do with just the 2 pickups and tone controls would put a pedal maker out of business.

Also, take opinions on guitar forum with a pinch. A lot of guys on forums are hardened gear heads, and will exaggerate differences and preferences, so they can sound like hard facts. You have to learn to trust your own ears.


Last edited by Drubbing on Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:04 am
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Hi patzw and welcome aboard!! :)

There's two ways of starting:

1.) the easy way (as like "ignoring tone and volume controls" for example or as like "playing power chords rather than learning the complete chords"....)

2.) do it right from the first moment on!

I followed #1 and regretted it! I seriously recommend #2!! It'll take a little longer to get satisfying results because you'll have to work harder but in the end, once the basics are set, the improvement will be so much faster!!

#1 gets you fast and enjoyable results but you'll get stuck pretty soon, maybe even learn mistakes and as soon as you start trying to use new techniques, you'll almost start at zero again because you limited yourself by ignoring many basic techniques.

#1 is for impatient people, #2 will make you a much better player!

If you learn to drive a car, you don't just focus on pressing the gas pedal all the way down, right? :wink:

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STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:16 am
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Smokin' Frets wrote:
Hi patzw and welcome aboard!! :)

There's two ways of starting:
2.) do it right from the first moment on!

This is what I'm trying to do - learn guitar first, toys later, cos you have to be able to use them.

My basics are learning the open chords (maj, min, 7s, and 9's), strum patterns, rhythm, timing, some power chords, palm muting, simple songs - acoustic-style versions, but played on electric, basic finger picking, minor pent and scales picking skills. And some basic theory, note circle, notes in the first 4 frets - basically the start of learning the fretboard.

That's kept me busy for a year, I could probably have got to where I am in 8 months, but I've 3 small kids and sometimes sleep wins instead.

I've still messed around and had fun, but I'm mostly sticking with the program.


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:26 am
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Fun is always the most important part in guitar playing. Try to play the things that come to mind. Just playing, no scales no chords.
Some minutes try to be the new rock star? just do it. It is all about fun and enjoying to play the guitar.
Nothing wrong with learning but enjoy the guitar and try to get a good sound of every single note is more important than learning every single scale that is out there.
Just my opinion.

Peace,
Robin

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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:55 am
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Thanks guys!

I'm glad with the answers given so far, they are pretty much in line with the gut feeling I had. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who doesn't trust her own feelings/ears etc all the time. Working on it, I promise ;)

Drubbing... same Drubbing from justinguitar? I like the examples you've given, I guess it really comes down to learning to use the tools you have or prefer and make them your own to produce the sound you like.
I'm also glad you said removing the whammy bar is an easy option without having to lock everything down. I honestly was a little worried I'd end up hurting my guitar by messing with it too much in the beginning.

Smokin' Frets, yes! I want to learn the right way. That's how I've been approaching the acoustic and that's how I plan to continue on the electric. I'm currently still working on my open chords and I'll imagine those will take me a while longer to master. Also working on the first few strumming patterns and rhythm. I'm learning using the justinguitar website, dvd's, songbooks and exercises and I like how it's structured but it also gives you freedom to move at your own pace and add in a lot of basic fun time with the guitar. I'll deal with power chords, scales and all those other options when I get there. In the meantime I will definitely be playing around with the tone, volume and amp controls though, to figure out how it works and what I like.

Man, I wish my new guitar was here already...


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:05 am
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All the stuff you posted and you said you're working on are perfect!

A couple of more things, maybe:

- try playing covers. Use tabs if necessary. It helps a lot in finding out, how notes and their tone can be affected by different techniques (which are already given in covers by the artist who played it).

- don't just stick to a program. Take your time to rearrange things, move'em up and down the fretboard, improvise for your own fun .....and rock your butt off. :wink:

The best learning technique is a useful mixture of strict programme, improvising with trial and error and simply having pure fun. :D

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:37 pm
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There's also playing with others. You'll probably want to learn the basic chords first and then a few songs. There's no harm in learning a few simple 3 - 4 chord classics at first. The whole idea is to get the feel for playing.

But then, find some other people to jam with. You don't have to be great, just be honest and most people will welcome you if the situation is appropriate. Playing with others is the best way going to master rhythm and timing in the real environment. On stage, nothing ever quite goes like in the rehearsal room and part of being a musician is handling that aspect. Plus, if you're jamming with decent people, you'll likely pick up a lot of great tips and help.

Finally, look at it as life long learning (and fun!). I started playing at 15, I'm 60 now and I still pick up new tricks and ideas every time I get together with others.


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:01 pm
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Robinstrat wrote:
Fun is always the most important part in guitar playing. Try to play the things that come to mind. Just playing, no scales no chords.

Nothing wrong with learning but enjoy the guitar and try to get a good sound of every single note is more important than learning every single scale that is out there.
Just my opinion.

Well, I've only learnt the minor pent, and haven't got onto any improv from that, I sucked at it, hence working on my pick skills and finger style stuff too. I need to make both hands more accurate and dextrous, if I'm to progress beyond chords. That said, working on this then makes chords feel easier, then songs are easier...

Everything I listed is a year's worth of stuff, there's been 'time-wasting fun' a plenty in there too. I think I've about a dozen songs I can play, and bits and pieces of others. I'd have liked to have learned a lot more, but I have limited time, energy, and no one to play with.

I've learned stuff I'd never have got just staying on the 'program', just by noodling around. Percussive strumming for one - that's a lot of fun and has started to teach me dynamics, and building or slowing tempo by changing from regular strumming to percussive.


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:02 pm
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She's here! And she's so beautiful and great :D (yes, I've decided she's a girl)

I didn't get home from work until 10 pm and I have another full day of work ahead of me so unfortunately I've only had a little time to play around with the guitar and the amp. So far I love it though. It takes a little bit of getting used to the feel and the sound - I seriously need to learn my way around the amp - but I'm looking forward to discovering everything. Just wish it was Sunday already...


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:05 pm
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We'll need to see pics of your new "sweetheart", of course......

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:20 pm
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But of course! So far I only have a couple of crappy pics I took with my cell phone in bad lighting. I should probably recharge the battery on my actual camera... but for now, this is it.

Image

Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:22 pm
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Classy and elegant......a superb "first" Strat!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Getting my first Strat soon - few beginner questions
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:54 pm
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Congrats!
Looks great and the right setting - all pots on 10 8)

All the best,
Robin

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