Learning to play the guitar

1) Never too late. How good you wanna be depends on how much work you wanna put in.

2) John Mayer songs aren't too hard to learn. Guitar is beautiful in that in can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. Learn to read tab, then learn by looking up songs from your favorite artists either on the web or at any bookstore.

3) www.sputnikmusic.com/forums
www.harmonycentral.com

Now I have a question for you. Are you high? That has to be the only reason you tryin' learn guitar at 5:30 in the morning.

 

1) Never too late to learn an instrument.

2) Depends on who you talk to. Its not as physically demanding as say the drums or as dextrous as the piano and you'll find yourself able to play a lot of basic songs in just a couple months but it takes a good long while to become proficient at the instrument. Don't expect to be playing John Mayer songs in 6 months (at least playing them decently).

3) The ones Chicken Boy mentioned are great. Guitar Tricks (www.guitartricks.com) has some nice licks subdivided by influence. I don't know that its worth the full membership but you can finds some pretty cool stuff even with the free membership.

As far as books go, I started with the Jamey Aebersold play alongs and this one (http://www.amazon.com/Rhythm-Guitar...600964?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173007234&sr=8-9). Tablature is great way to start learning but I highly suggesting weaning yourself off it as soon as possible. Focus on learning by ear as early as possible.

 

I downloaded some learn to play guitar videos by Flea off of Oink, but I still haven't viewed them yet.

 

I think the guitar is pretty hard. Mines has been collecting dust for over two years. I still want to learn, but I guess I'm just too lazy I don't think it's as easy to pick up and play like the piano. I'll probally buy a electric piano in the future and that'll probally end up collecting dust too.

 

piano actually seemed a little harder to learn for me, although i learned how to play it before i learned the guitar (which i am still learning).

just play everyday.. dont "practice".. just play. when you start to "practice" everyday, it gets old and boring really fastm and you will end up giving up. Learn a couple of scales and chords, get some tabs and start playing. Also playing with friends that know more than you, or even less, is really fun, and you can learn alot from eachother.

 

1. Never too late
2. what's her name and pictures would be appreciated *grin*
3. cannot help

on a serious note
I am trying to do the same thing with Keyboard
I use to think that I lacked the manual dexterity . .then someone pointed out
I could type . . . and those keys are much smaller
but
I often wonder if i have the 'ear' for it

I have a keyboard. . and 'mess' around with it from time to time
but
I think it is time to get serious and focus on it

I think it is more TIME and DEDICATION than anything else

GO FOR IT!!

Rocket River
Hee Haw's All Junk Band

 

I've been playing guitar for many years and, in my opinion, it is the most difficult instrument there is out there except for maybe the Sitar. lol

It's never too late but obviously the younger you start...the better chances you have to succeed at it...as with any instrument.

I will say this about guitar...fingers are very important. If you have shorter, stubbier fingers, then you are at a severe disadvantage to start. If you have longer fingers and bigger hands, then you already have a great advantage just right there. How many guitarists do you see out there who succeeded with smaller hands and shorter finger size? Answer: none. John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Alex Lifeson, Eddie Van Halen, etc. etc. etc. all are blessed with very large hands. Most of those guys can rap their thumb over the top of the neck and still hit any notes they want...something smaller hand peeps cannot do. That reach is very important and anyone who tells you otherwise is full of sh*t. That doesn't mean you can't play but it will be more difficult than other people.

But, I will also take another angle in that if you are practicing and learning the right things (i.e. music theory)...then that is pretty much everything to be able to succeed. The people who go nowhere on guitar are the people who don't spend enough time practicing and only tend to play covers. A lot of amateurs have bad rhythm and time because they didn't learn timing from a metronome or playing with a drummer who has good time. I personally like to learn songs from my favorite bands and play along with the CD. However, this does zippo to advance my knowledge in music theory. Any teacher usually advises practice theory first and play what you want to play second. If you love to practice theory, then that's a big step.

After all my years playing, I have pretty good finger strength but anytime you learn something new...it is difficult to play most times. It's repetition that allows you to gain strength and comfort in playing a difficult scale or chord...for example. I have been trying to learn theory but the vested time you need for all the practice and mainly just staying on course is the huge thing. I have a DVD video instruction set with course materials that claims a "20 minutes a day" deal. I have trouble even sticking to that with all the other crap in life that needs attention, i.e. work, errands, etc. .

But, I still love to play. That's the main thing. I can never avoid my guitar for more than a couple of days. I'm even in Guitar Center yesterday playing multiple Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars looking for my next high-priced baby. Regardless of how good you are now or how good you become, having the best axe available to pound on is something any guitarist desires. But, a starter is best starting with a $300 Fender strat with a Fender practice amp or something along that level. My brother just bought those things and I know he'll never be any good but he just likes to have it all on hand just in case. He also has keyboards and a bass guitar set-up. lol

Good luck...you are going to need it.

Edit: Oh...and there is an excellent tool out there for learning songs from your favorite guitarists. It's called "Power Tab" and there is a huge library put together from practically every artist around. You download these .PTB files and you see the notes transcribed and watch the whole song being played. Then, you can learn to play along. It's really cool. I know there are many John Mayer songs there. All you have to do is download the Power Tab editor and sign up to download the song files. This is such a great invention for a guitarist. The best part is it is all free. Enjoy!

http://www.powertabs.net

 

I have a guitar sitting in my den, collecting dust. I've wanted to learn how to play for a while now, but I just don't have the time or the patience. I already play piano and drums (over 20 years each on both instruments), so I'm looking to finish the trifecta.

 

I'd say that's the biggest key to really PLAYING the guitar.

I really wish I started off learning more theory instead of just learning specific chords at a time, or looking up songs and trying to play off the tabs. Because that really gets you nowhere. Unless you're one of the select few that can just pick up a guitar first time and do some sick things, learning the theory behind it will help you to understand the guitar, and if you can understand it then a whole new world of possibilities opens up for you.

 

1. It's never too late.
2. Define "difficult". Anything worth achieving usually involves some sort of effort.
3. There are lots of books with chord charts, but as a beginner, you will want to make time for one-on-one lessons. There are places in Houston you can pay per lesson. Take the lessons when you have time and practice in your spare time.

 

I have 2 guitars and an amp. I can play a mean rhythm guitar but for the life of me, I just can't improvise.

 

You are right, for the most part, but Roy Clark of Hee Haw fame had short and stubby fingers and was a fantastic guitar and banjo player. I guess he is the exception that proves the rule since I can't really think of any other stubby-digited guitar ace.

 

I thought it would be cool to serenade my wife and my girls with a guee-tar soon. Maybe I could still learn...

It would be nice if you shared. Email through bbs, please?

 

I just bought a (P)aul (R)eed (S)mith CE 24 guitar off of E-bay. I haven't gotten it yet. She's a cherry red flame finish beauty with PRS tremolo, locking tuners, and a maple top. The price was reasonable for an axe like this at between $1-2K. Surfguy can't wait to play it and is stoked. Me likey.

Next up...new combo amp or head/cab. I'm upgrading my sound and it feels good. Look out, Alex Lifeson (who just so happens to play PRS guitars).

You can never have too many guitars. I've been suffering with one electric and it's a pain when you want to drop-D tune...for example. It's better to have multiple guitars at different tunings. lol. Plus, you need to tune to down a half step if you want a guitar primed to play Eddie Van Halen's eruption. So, one guitar goes there.

Now, if I would only get back to my lessons...SIGH!!!

 

Keith Richards