Any guitarists here? I need some advice...

[metallibloke]

I'm a complete beginner with the guitar. I bought an acoustic guitar off a guy at work. Thing is, I cant seem to put my fingers on the fret board properly. I dont mean I'm retarded, I know where I should put my fingers, its just that I seem to be catching other strings at the same time. Any advice?

 

[Drekce]

PRACTICE...alot.

 

[FiddleDD]

www.wholenote.com has a lot of music (tells the notes to play) that you can get free

 

[Shack70]

you may want to lower the action(move the strings closeer to the fret board) to make it easier for you. Take it to a guitar shop and have them do it for you, they will file down the bridge a little to lower the strings. You wont have to press so hard then Finger execises help too...ask at the guitar store again for an explanation

 

[Sleater]

What kind of strings are on that guitar?

They should be steel if you're planning on playing rock, folk, country, blues, etc. If they're Nylon, replace them -- Nylon strings are just for classical.

Black Flagg's advice is also right. If the guitar is old and wasn't used for a long time it probably needs to be set up. And the action should be moved down. You'll need to take it to a music store to do that.

Using proper technique, your thumb should rest on the middle of the back of the neck. Get into the habit of doing that now and 3 years from now, after hours of practice, you'll thank me. Of course, Jimi Hendrix' thumb hung over the top of the fretboard and he used it as a sixth finger for playing. He was also left-handed and played a right-handed guitar upside down. There's only one Jimi Hendrix.

Given your nickname you might be a metal fan and want to play hard-crunchy power chords and lightning fast solo's. If thats the case you might want to think about playing an electric guitar instead. I bought my first guitar at a pawnshop, a generic SG copy. It was about $80. You could probably get an inexpensive 10 or 20 watt practice amplifier as well for about the same price. Take lessons or learn tablature. Practice alot. Get a distortion pedal. Practice alot. Get lots of chicks.

 

[GasX]

An acoustic takes a lot more finger strength than an electric. If you are learning on an acoustic (as most people do), you will start off having trouble hitting the right strings and holding them down. Just keep at it. If you practive at least 3 times a week for an hour, you'll be playing songs within a month.

 

[The Stigenator]

actually if the aucustic has an adjustable neck you might need to adjust it so the strings comes closer to the fret board. My aucustic had that. it drove me nuts when I had to play someone elses gutair.

 

[damocles]

6 months from now it will all be so easy dude.