Hello, I am a complete newbie!

[number41]

Hi there,

 

I've always been interested in playing the guitar, but I've never actually gotten in to it like I am trying to get in to it now. I've got a pretty decent musical background, I've played Alto Sax for about 8 years (as a student) so I know my way around, more or less.

 

What would you folks suggest I do in order to start out? From reading I can see that guitar looks a little more different from Saxophone than I thought, so I'm not sure where to start.

 

I can't even really play anything yet, but I would really like to learn some songs like Dave Matthews, and I've read that trying to play those by ear is something I should try, but should I learn chords first?

 

Basically just looking for some newbie tips, haha.

 

Thanks:)

[nylon rock]

With an even tempo strum, as in four four, without missing a beat, learn and practice the open position chords of:

E, A, D, C, G, Em, Am, and Dm.

A good start. Most everything builds from there.

You have a long way to go, grasshopper.

[edman316]

Welcome aboard!

I am a self taught guitar hacker of 20+ years. I played in several rock/metal bands in the '80's and '90's. I made mistakes early with developing bad fret hand technique (not using the pinky finger, holding my wrist at a bad angle, etc). I also learned scales before I learned chords. I could play the melody and lead of songs but struggled with any chords other than "power chords" (do a Google search on power chords). I had to relearn the guitar 5 years after I began playing. You don't want to go throught that.

Do you own a guitar? Acoustic or electric?

The most important factor is learning to play on a guitar that will stay in tune. I feel that the acoustic is the best guitar to learn on. You will build up fret hand strength quicker and learn to fret chords correctly.

You must learn the foundation first: chords. Learn your open chords (chords around the first 3 frets).

You can do Google searches for guitar lessons for beginners online. You can buy the Mel Bay beginner guitar books and chord books. You can buy guitar magazines too (Guitar One, Guitar World, Guitar Player, etc.).

I think the best thing to do for a complete beginner is to take lessons. Especially in the beginning. You may learn some bad habits without someone there to correct you.

Your Alto Sax experience will help you read sheet music (a rarity for recreational guitar players: especially rockers). Unless you are a gifted musician (musically inclined) your sax experience will not give you an advantage on physically mastering the guitar. That is a misconception of many musicians. I can play piano therefore I should have no problem playing the banjo/bass/guitar etc. String instruments are the most difficult to play. The guitar is a difficult instrument to learn. There are tons of bass players that can't play guitar no matter how hard they try. In fact, most bass players began on the guitar and gave up (LOL).

Don't take short cuts. They will limit your progress.

Good Luck!

[number41]

i would have to say i'm not really into the guitar legends as much as the people who play the music that i like..

dave matthews, tim reynolds, kenny chesney, brad paisley, metallica, dashboard confessional, jimmy buffett, skynyrd

and i know i have a long way to go, haha.. but everyone has to start somewhere

edit-- thanks a lot edman316!!

[edman316]

No problem. The great thing about the guitar is the fact that you can never "out grow" the instrument. You will always be learning something new.

You have a great attitude: listen to EVERYTHING and play ANYTHING that makes you happy. I wish I had your attitude when I began playing. I started playing nothing but VanHalen, Scorpions, Dokken, Metalica and a slew of other '80's rock/metal bands. The irony is the first song I learned to play was U2's "I will Follow" (by ear - I wore the tape out - rewinding over and over). I ended up going into metal due to peer pressure (hey, I was 15!). Playing in bands was the best learning experience ever. Although, I was surprised how much I improved after I quit playing in metal bands and began listening to blues, country and jazz.

Everytime you think you are the {censored}, you will hear someone that will blow your mind and send you back to the "woodshed" for more practice. Some days I sound so good I can almost cry. The next day I will sound so pathetic I will almost cry. The longer you play and the more you practice, you will have more good days than bad ones.

You will learn to respect most if not ALL of the guitar gods of the 60's, 70's, 80's and beyound (rock, blues, country, jazz, etc). Dave Mathews wouldn't be "Dave Mathews" as we know him if he never heard the Beatle's George Harrison play "Blackbird" (I'm listening to DM's "Stand Up" right now). John Mayer wouldn't be "John Mayer" if he never heard Dave Mathew's "Satellite". John Mayers can play. He plays a bunch of Hendrix covers in his live shows. He blew my mind when I heard him play like that.

In closing, music is gift, it is always borrowed - we share it with everyone. We can take it to new places, but we must respect it's origins. IMO the most interesting thing in the guitar magazines is the interviews. I love to read how big name players began playing and who they list as their major influences. Once you know, you can hear it in their playing. It's pretty cool, almost like guitar DNA.

Just remember to share the gift with new players down the road. That's what these forums are about: sharing advice and experience: We all have a mutual love of a VERY difficult, yet rewarding instrument. Just don't throw yours out the window - trust me, you will be tempted to do it often!

[JasmineTea]

number41,
Do you have a guitar?

I mean, have you ever played one?

[number41]

Not really, I mean I have tried before, but without knowing anything and just trying to make things sound good. I tend to have a good ear for that sort of thing, but I don't know the first thing about how to actually play.. lol

No, I don't have a guitar yet.

What would you all suggest?

[edman316]

How much do want to spend?

I know of a couple nice starter acoustic guitars in the $180 - $300 range.

You can get a nice guitar in the $400 - $700 range.
My current favorite is my Washburn WD56SW from Music123. I bought it for $499.00 with a hard shell case and free shipping. They are selling them for $399.00 now! (I got a refund for the $100 difference too!)

You can get something super nice in the $800 + range.

I suggest staying in the first price range. I have plenty of suggestions of brands you should check out.

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by number41 Not really, I mean I have tried before, but without knowing anything and just trying to make things sound good. I tend to have a good ear for that sort of thing, but I don't know the first thing about how to actually play.. lol No, I don't have a guitar yet. What would you all suggest?

Well, I'm not all that good with beginners, there are others on the forum who'd know better than I what a good starter guitar would be.

 

I was wondering if you know what you're in for. I mean, just making one note sound out clear is hard on the guitar, unlike piano where you can walk up to the thing, press a button, and a note comes out.

 

Not to mention calouses.

 

I don't mean to sound discouraging, go for it!

Getting started is painful (at least if I remember, it was) and you'll probly be singing the blues about it on the forum. Don't give up. It'll be worth it.

 

When you get a guitar, spend ALL your time with it. Don't just stick to playing what the instructor says, try something different, EXPERIMENT, it does'nt have to make sense, you don't have to play your experiments FOR anyone. You'll learn more on your own than you will from the teacher. I never took lessons.

 

When you pick out a guitar, bring someone with who knows a thing or two, make sure it's easy to play. Some guitars look great but play terribly. Good luck!

[rgordonrn]

Originally posted by edman316 How much do want to spend? I know of a couple nice starter acoustic guitars in the $180 - $300 range. You can get a nice guitar in the $400 - $700 range. My current favorite is my Washburn WD56SW from Music123. I bought it for $499.00 with a hard shell case and free shipping. They are selling them for $399.00 now! (I got a refund for the $100 difference too!) You can get something super nice in the $800 + range. I suggest staying in the first price range. I have plenty of suggestions of brands you should check out.

 

 

Edman316 is the official spokesperson for the Wasburn WD56SW.

[edman316]

Originally posted by Tioga_Man At some risk, I want to make an observation. edman, I saw you take some unjustified abuse in a thread about Bonnaroo. But calm down, I don't think anyone was seriously criticizing you about your views of a Washburn. I might be wrong, but I think rgordonrn may even have a WD56SW. So...sorry to get involved but text without facial expressions and body language is often difficult to interpret. I'm just trying to help.

OK - I deleted my post - even though I didn't see anything wrong with it. I didn't mean to insult anyone. He made a joke about me - I made one about him. The last time I used expressions (smilies) I upset the Bonnaroo guy.

I will try to be a kinder, gentler, poster in the future. Sorry if I upset anyone else.

[edman316]

Originally posted by rgordonrn Edman316 is the official spokesperson for the Wasburn WD56SW.

Thank's!

[420Phoenix]

Hey Newbie! Get me another beer! Do it now! NO DAMNIT! I DON'T DRINK BUDWEISER!!! Where's my paddle? Beg me for another and another! And from now on, don't let me catch you standing, you sit DOWN when you pee!

This guy's a *complete* newbie!!!!

HA HA HA HA HA

Groove On!
Steve

P.S. I couldn't resist!

[LDF]

Hey man I was just like you about 5 years ago; never played guitar, had years of experience with the alto sax from school and didn't know where to start.
Others will laugh at me for saying this, but I started with "Guitar for dummies". I didn't know ANYTHING about playing guitar, not even how to tune it. That book got me started. I quickly bought many other books and am still going. I would definitely suggest the most basic of guitar books that will introduce you to the instrument after which you can move on to more advanced stuff. The most important thing is to not give up. Practice, practice and practice some more.

p.s. Practice!

[telenate]

Please read my review of the eMedia Guitar Method, Vol. 1. It's an amazingly good product for beginners, as I have indicated.

Start with a Yamaha acoustic? I'm not sure what's the best acoustic in your price range, but I've frequently heard good things about Yamaha beginner guitars.

[tamolina]

You don't want to spend $800 for something that is going to sit in the closet if you decide guitar is not for you after all. But you don't want a really cheap guitar that is going to be discouragingly hard to play, and sound like crap. If you can cough up the four hundred bucks, I think that Washburn WD56SW is a helluva bargain. Solid rosewood b/s, solid spruce top, bone nut and saddle, ebony bridge and fretboard, etc etc. Mine came with a good setup, and it sounds great.

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by telenate Start with a Yamaha acoustic? I'm not sure what's the best acoustic in your price range, but I've frequently heard good things about Yamaha beginner guitars.

I bought a hardly-used Yamaha dread for $100, gave it to a begginner freind.

It played great.

[rgordonrn]

I can't play guitar either, but that doesn't stop me from having one. I can however, play my $500 guitar better than my $200 guitar.

[idthornell]

I too recommend the emedia beginner cd rom. I also recommend that you read the reviews before buying a guitar!

I decided to learn guitar this February. My husband read some reviews on Harmony Central and bought me a Zager 50ce from http://zagerguitar.com/

I bought the emedia program and spend about 1 hour /day on average practicing. Lots of fun, minimal frustration and no one can believe I've only been playing a few months!