Calling all ATOT guitarists

[JonnyStarks]

Ok, so I got an acoustic guitar for Christmas eager to learn how to make beautiful music.
Just wondering if there are any pointers you can give me, knowing the only instrument I've ever played before was the... recorder. 10 years ago.

Couple things that are outstanding:
1. My fingers hurt like crazy from fretting. I know this has to go away but about how long does that take? And is there anything I can do to quicken the process?

2. I'm told it was tuned in the store beforehand and I also got a book that goes over the tuning process but apparently I'm completely tone deaf. I have a real hard time determining if two sounds are the same tone. Does this come with time too?

3. I've tried doing a few chords and I don't know if my hand is in the wrong position or what, but my fingers are always touching adjacent strings so it makes it sound off. Course, again I'm kinda tone deaf do it might sound great. I dunno.

Also, has anybody taken classes and have you found that its worth the money? Or can you learn just fine from a book and the wonderfully helpful advice of ATOT/websites/book?

Thanks for any help!

 

[rh71]

Can't help you on the classes, as I have never taken them... but about the other things:

1) will take a few weeks for your fingers to "harden" and become used to it

2) they have electronic guitar tuners out there that will make your life easier... but a simple manual way I do it is the following:
- 5th fret, 6th string (top) held down sounds like the 5th string open
- 5th fret, 5th string held down sounds like the 4th string open
- 5th fret, 4th string held down sounds like the 3rd string open
- 4th fret, 3rd string held down sounds like the 2nd string open
- 5th fret, 2nd string held down sounds like the 1st string open
Of course, this depends on you knowing what the 6th or 1st strings sound like, open.

3) chords come with a TON of practice...

 

[xyion]

if you havent played a musical instrument before, then definitely get lessons. A good teacher will go over all the questons you have, and give you the correct answers.

anyway

1. you'll develop callouses(sp?) with practice
2. buy a tuner to properly tune your guitar. Standard Tuning id EADGBe (from thickest string to thinnest). In time you'll learn if you are sharp/flat
3. www.chordfind.com

I taught myself to play the guitar with the help of a couple friends and tons of practice, however I've been playing musical instruments since I was 3, so I know the theory behind it, which I believe is very important to learn.

 

[Farvacola]

It is certainly tough to learn guitar with practically no musical experience, but you should fair ok if you dedicate yourself. Practice until your fingers feel terrible, because with time, the callouses and the knowledge needed to make things sound right begin to take form. Time is the biggest factor in how well you play.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Originally posted by: rh71
Can't help you on the classes, as I have never taken them... but about the other things:

1) will take a few weeks for your fingers to "harden" and become used to it

2) they have electronic guitar tuners out there that will make your life easier... but a simple manual way I do it is the following:
- 5th fret, 6th string (top) held down sounds like the 5th string open
- 5th fret, 5th string held down sounds like the 4th string open
- 5th fret, 4th string held down sounds like the 3rd string open
- 4th fret, 3rd string held down sounds like the 2nd string open
- 5th fret, 2nd string held down sounds like the 1st string open
Of course, this depends on you knowing what the 6th or 1st strings sound like, open.

3) chords come with a TON of practice...

I have instructions for that manual method... so does "sound like" mean that the two should sound identical?

 

[thelanx]

1. Your fingers will develop calluses relatively quick I think.

2. You could get one of those electronic tuners that will tell you if you are in tune. After a while you will develop the skills to tell if two sounds are the same note.

3. This is a matter of posture I think. Also, your fingers might not be strong enough or flexible enough. With practice you will improve.

 

[thelanx]

Originally posted by: JonnyStarks

Originally posted by: rh71
Can't help you on the classes, as I have never taken them... but about the other things:

1) will take a few weeks for your fingers to "harden" and become used to it

2) they have electronic guitar tuners out there that will make your life easier... but a simple manual way I do it is the following:
- 5th fret, 6th string (top) held down sounds like the 5th string open
- 5th fret, 5th string held down sounds like the 4th string open
- 5th fret, 4th string held down sounds like the 3rd string open
- 4th fret, 3rd string held down sounds like the 2nd string open
- 5th fret, 2nd string held down sounds like the 1st string open
Of course, this depends on you knowing what the 6th or 1st strings sound like, open.

3) chords come with a TON of practice...

I have instructions for that manual method... so does "sound like" mean that the two should sound identical?

They won't sound identical because the strings are of different gauges, but the note will be the same. If you tune it via an electronic tuner, and then play through the notes and listen to the same note on different strings you will know what I mean. You would probably have to learn some music theory to start, and a teacher might explain things better than a book.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

1) You'll build your callouses pretty quick if you keep at it... 30 mins of playing a day and you'll be all set within a couple weeks. They go away equally quickly if you slack off for a few days though, so keep at it!

2) You're ability to sense tone will develop with time as well, but do yourself a favor and get an electric tuner to start with.

3) Your fingers will build strength and you'll acquire more precision with time as well.

Moral of the story: Practice Every Day. This is by far the most important thing to do while learning.

I took lessons for several years, I'd say it has to do a lot with the teacher and how he's instructing you. Some teachers are great, others won't help you with anything you can't learn out of a book. Playing with other experienced guitarists and asking questions is the best way to go IMHO. Learn the songs and theory that interests you, always think about how you can improve, and keep at it!

 

[JonnyStarks]

Originally posted by: xyion
if you havent played a musical instrument before, then definitely get lessons. A good teacher will go over all the questons you have, and give you the correct answers.

anyway

1. you'll develop callouses(sp?) with practice
2. buy a tuner to properly tune your guitar. Standard Tuning id EADGBe (from thickest string to thinnest). In time you'll learn if you are sharp/flat
3. www.chordfind.com

I taught myself to play the guitar with the help of a couple friends and tons of practice, however I've been playing musical instruments since I was 3, so I know the theory behind it, which I believe is very important to learn.

Ok it really looks like a little background knowledge will help me out. However, I still don't know if I want to take lessons.
Any helpful online sites that will give me some basic knowledge?

 

[RaDragon]

I stopped developing bad callouses after playing for a year. I still consider myself a beginner, but what I noticed was, the more I practiced, the better I got (go figure 😉)

Start with easy songs (I like folk music) because of the "simple" strumming sequence and then work your way to more complex songs (e.g., more chords, including barre chords, etc.)

Check [L=this]http://guitar.about.com/od/beginners/[/L page out for some more tutorials and info.

 

[JonnyStarks]

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

God that pisses me off.

Guess who just broke a Fvcking string

goddammit rrrrrr heres hoping the guitar place is open tomorrow

On the plus side, I now know when the 1st string is strung too tight

*cursing*

 

[KingNothing]

If you want to train your ear, go to http://www.musictheory.net and do the Interval Ear Trainer. When I took music theory classes we had to do 50 of those per week and get at least 40 right. It's super easy to fake a good score, but if you want to train your ear this is a good way to start.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: JonnyStarks
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

God that pisses me off.

Guess who just broke a Fvcking string

goddammit rrrrrr heres hoping the guitar place is open tomorrow

On the plus side, I now know when the 1st string is strung too tight

*cursing*

lol we all go through that... just don't let it hit you in the eye.

If you're not feeling confident, have the store do it for you for a few bucks. But I think you may have to leave it with them.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: JonnyStarks
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

God that pisses me off.

Guess who just broke a Fvcking string

goddammit rrrrrr heres hoping the guitar place is open tomorrow

On the plus side, I now know when the 1st string is strung too tight

*cursing*

lol we all go through that... just don't let it hit you in the eye.

If you're not feeling confident, have the store do it for you for a few bucks. But I think you may have to leave it with them.

I once stabbed myself in the finger with a high E string while restringing my guitar. It went all the way through (left 2 holes). Surprisingly, I hardly felt it.

Anyways, be careful when stringing up. 🙂

 

[Fritzo]

Guitar Center Has some pretty decent online lessons for $20/month. They're video clips by pretty decent teachers.

There's nothing like human interaction when learning. I'd recomend taking at last a half dozen lessons to start.