26 Mar 07
Originally posted by ark13Wear a condom when you are mobbed by groupies. 😕
I got an accoustic for my seventeeth birthday, and I've been teaching myself to play. I've been using guitar lessons from http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm
Recently, I've mostly been practicing playing songs; it has helped me with timing and cut down the time it takes me to switch chords. I know about 12 chords. My fingers are getting nice and calloused.
Does anyone have any advice for me?
26 Mar 07
Originally posted by ark13Pay attention to your technique. Make sure it is solid and don't cut any corners. When practicing your chords, play each string individually and make sure none of them are "dead" i.e. not making any noise. Some people play chords and they sound average, some people play chords and it makes the guitar sing. Most of this is due to strings not being held properly either with your "bar" finger (across a fret of the neck) or individual positions. Build strength in your wrist any which way you can. Also, don't jump straight into songs. Take the time to practice scales and get you fingers nimble and your picking (wether plectrum or finger) clean.
I got an accoustic for my seventeeth birthday, and I've been teaching myself to play. I've been using guitar lessons from http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm
Recently, I've mostly been practicing playing songs; it has helped me with timing and cut down the time it takes me to switch chords. I know about 12 chords. My fingers are getting nice and calloused.
Does anyone have any advice for me?
And finally, stay away from Emo and Pop Punk.
26 Mar 07
Try this exercise for making your fingers nimble & for stretching. Keep your index/middle/ring/little fingers in position throughout:
G------------18------------18
D---------16------------16
A-----14-------------14
E--12-------------12
Then:
G-----------18-----------18
D--------16-----------16
A-----14-----------14
E--11-----------11
Next:
G-----------18------------18
D--------16-----------16
A-----13-----------13
E--11-----------11
& continue snaking down the fretboard with all fingers, as far down as you can go whilst all the notes sound ok with no buzz.
Barre chords will soon seem like child's play.
26 Mar 07
Originally posted by EsotericI concur!
Pay attention to your technique. Make sure it is solid and don't cut any corners. When practicing your chords, play each string individually and make sure none of them are "dead" i.e. not making any noise. Some people play chords and they sound average, some people play chords and it makes the guitar sing. Most of this is due to strings not being held prope ...[text shortened]... cking (wether plectrum or finger) clean.
And finally, stay away from Emo and Pop Punk.
What kind of music do you like? if you like metal then low action guitars are the way to go, but for most other things you really want a high-action, heavy guage beast. why? sure, they chew up your fingers, but they sound so much better! if you buy one of those ibanez things with carved out frets so you'll play oh so much faster-well, you may or may not play faster, i don't know, but your guitar won't sound half as nice as a good les paul unless you crank up the distortion...
anyway-yes-practice, practice, practice. practice with a metronome for your timing, practice with a CD for fun, and practice with friends to improve. practice improvisation, practice playing jazz/blues standards, practice playing stuff that is far too hard for you to play. practice scales, and practice switching scales. practice chords, and practice switching chords. just, practice...
and get a teacher, that always helps... 😛
26 Mar 07
Originally posted by geniusI'm good at Guitar Hero....does that help?
I concur!
What kind of music do you like? if you like metal then low action guitars are the way to go, but for most other things you really want a high-action, heavy guage beast. why? sure, they chew up your fingers, but they sound so much better! if you buy one of those ibanez things with carved out frets so you'll play oh so much faster-well, you may or ...[text shortened]... nd practice switching chords. just, practice...
and get a teacher, that always helps... 😛
26 Mar 07
Originally posted by EsotericThanks for the help, everyone! You've given me lots of good ideas for practice.
Pay attention to your technique. Make sure it is solid and don't cut any corners. When practicing your chords, play each string individually and make sure none of them are "dead" i.e. not making any noise. Some people play chords and they sound average, some people play chords and it makes the guitar sing. Most of this is due to strings not being held prope ...[text shortened]... cking (wether plectrum or finger) clean.
And finally, stay away from Emo and Pop Punk.
Are you saying not to get into those kinds of music because you don't like them or because they're not good for me? So far I've been practicing with that, but only with songs that are played with chords so I'd imagine that it's still good practice.
27 Mar 07
Originally posted by slimjimAnd after that practice. I didn't go back and read the whole of it , but has anybody mentioned signing along whilst playing. When I started doing that I improved by leaps and bounds. Its triple training of guitar, voice, and ear all at the same time. You have to train your ears along with fingers. You don't want to become sheet dependent. Try to understand what sounds good together and why, instead of brute force memorization of where notes are.
Practice, practice, practice, and even more paractice.😉
27 Mar 07
Originally posted by cheshirecatstevensWhen I first started to try and sing and play at the same time, it gave me brain burn much like you get playing chess. Hard thinking. It's getting easier, I worked into it by humming along first, doing some whistling... and now I can do pretty well. Fun stuff.
And after that practice. I didn't go back and read the whole of it , but has anybody mentioned signing along whilst playing. When I started doing that I improved by leaps and bounds. Its triple training of guitar, voice, and ear all at the same time. You have to train your ears along with fingers. You don't want to become sheet dependent. Try to u ...[text shortened]... and what sounds good together and why, instead of brute force memorization of where notes are.
Now all I need is some talent.
P-
27 Mar 07
Originally posted by cheshirecatstevensGood tip. I've been singing along since I've started playing, though my family isn't really happy about that, and I'm glad to hear that it helps like I expected.
And after that practice. I didn't go back and read the whole of it , but has anybody mentioned signing along whilst playing. When I started doing that I improved by leaps and bounds. Its triple training of guitar, voice, and ear all at the same time. You have to train your ears along with fingers. You don't want to become sheet dependent. Try to u ...[text shortened]... and what sounds good together and why, instead of brute force memorization of where notes are.
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27 Mar 07
Originally posted by ark13Have you ever heard your own voice over say a tape recorder or something?
Good tip. I've been singing along since I've started playing, though my family isn't really happy about that, and I'm glad to hear that it helps like I expected.
Mine sounds really weird, I was surprised...😕
I didn't like it...🙁
28 Mar 07
Originally posted by ark13It was more of a joke because they are the easiest songs to play. Just 2-note power chords.
Are you saying not to get into those kinds of music because you don't like them or because they're not good for me? So far I've been practicing with that, but only with songs that are played with chords so I'd imagine that it's still good practice.