Guitar Players: Seeking Self-Taught Resources

[Starbuck1975]

Back in college, I purchased an electric guitar and was going to become a metal God...unfortunately that did not happen, as I attempted to jump right into learnings songs rather than learn how to play...I did manage to learn the first few notes of like three Metallica songs, and know a few chords, but that's about it. Ended up getting frustrated, and sold the guitar after a few years.

Well, recently I decided to get back into playing...decided to go with an acoustic instead of electric, as I felt it was simply a more practical choice for learning how to play:

I picked up this guitar about a month ago on clearance from a music store clearing inventory:
Seagull 25th Anniversary

For those of you who know how to play, are there any good instructional DVD or online resources you could direct me towards?

 

[gorcorps]

Not that it helps now, but I would have stuck with the electric. IMO acoustics are nice but pretty boring until you're quite good.

The problem you had with the electric is you jumped right into difficult songs. You didn't start with simple things like Green Day, Nirvana, etc... Regardless of if you like the songs or not you have to start with the easy ones to get your technique down. If anybody could pick up a guitar and play metallica in a month then nobody would have respect for guitarists.

 

[Kntx]

Find a local utility pole with a flyer offering guitar lessons attached. Remove one one of the phone number tabs. Call the number. Arrange a time and place. Rock on.

Maybe these don't exist near you, but I can't recall the last time I saw a utility pole without without a learn guitar ad attached.

 

[Fritzo]

OK, I say this every time. If you really want to learn how to play, get some real one on one lessons. They're not expensive- usually $15-$20/week. Take lessons for 6 weeks or so to learn how to hold the guitar, finger the frets, and learn some structure. Beginners tend to do things that are comfortable, not proper. If you screw up your form early on, you have to relearn everything later, which wastes a lot of time and causes frustration.

After you get lessons under your belt, try out this site: Workshop Live It's probably the best teaching site I've seen- world class teachers, a structured lesson set, artists show you how to play their songs, interactive Flash, printable tab...very cool.

 

[MichaelD]

There are tons of free instructional sites on the web. Not sure how little you know...that sort of determines what point you need to start from.

You don't need to know theory at all in order to play guitar. But knowing all the major and minor chords and a few sevenths/ninths in various postitions on the neck is important.

At the very least, can you strum "G-D-C-G-D-G" and the like. For example, I'll Cry Instead by The Beatles. It's a little uptempo, but it's a really easy strum.

The acoustic and the electric are two different animals completely. Same notes in the same positions on the neck but that's about all they have in common. Playing the acoustic will most definitely build up your muscles/grip (and callouses!) and help you play the electric.

I play the acoustic more than the electric...always have for some reason. I enjoy the acoustic in it's entirety. Everything from classical fingerstyle (not that great at it) to strumming Eagles-type songs (pretty good at it) to alternate tunings with a capo.

I don't read music, so i'm limited to picking up by ear and/or tablature.

One site that I've found VERY good is IVideosongs.com.

They have some free lessons/licks which have been helpful for me and their (paid) video lessons are spot-on and make it easy to learn.

I bought the Steely Dan "Kid Charlemagne" lesson and I can play the rhythm almost entirely in real-time at this point. That's a big accomplishment for me. 🙂 The solo...I've got the first couple bars memorized...working on getting it up to speed...gonna take a little while. 😱

When I first started playing (early 80's) there was no internet and "Tab books" were hard to find and expensive. These days, you can find anything you want on the net and half of it's free.

Go to Ivideosongs and download all their free tutorials and practice, practice.

That's a fine start for you. 🙂

Good luck.

 

[jemcam]

There are a ton of instructional videos on youtube. However, as has been said, an instructor will keep you from learning bad habits. I've been playing about two years and I'm still taking lessons and still lapse into what is comfortable instead of what is right when I start playing faster. It's a constant struggle. Take lessons, I think you'll progress faster. If you don't want to learn music, there are instructors that will teach you just tabs. The one I have right now teaches both, we spend half the lesson learning a tab of a song that is familiar, then we work on learning theory and reading music and it's fun.

Also, FWIW, an electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic. They're more comfortable, you can look at the fretboard easier to see where you fingers are when/if you need to, the strings are thinner, and the action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: jemcam
Also, FWIW, an electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic. They're more comfortable, you can look at the fretboard easier to see where you fingers are when/if you need to, the strings are thinner, and the action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

True dat. But after a few days of strumming/fingering notes on the acoustic, the electrics' like buttah. 😀

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: jemcam
Also, FWIW, an electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic. They're more comfortable, you can look at the fretboard easier to see where you fingers are when/if you need to, the strings are thinner, and the action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

True dat. But after a few days of strumming/fingering notes on the acoustic, the electrics' like buttah. 😀

I find that if I practice long enough on a particular song on the acoustic, the electric is much easier when I switch to playing it. Of course, the learning curve is steeper and longer with the acoustic.

I originally started playing an acoustic but soon switched to an electric because it was so frustrating. Now I play both.

 

[Gibson486]

1. DO what Fritzo said.

2. Pick up Oasis: Definately Maybe. That will teach easy chord progression as well basic scales. That is what that whole album is. You master that, you master basic scales and fingering (and you will impress chicks).

3. Take time to actually memorize your scales and chords.

4. Since you want to be a heavy metal slasher....LEARN YOUR SCALES and try to play them faster everytime!

EDIT: Oh and guitar is a learn by doing thing. Best way to become good is to just keep playing stuff you like.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Not that it helps now, but I would have stuck with the electric. IMO acoustics are nice but pretty boring until you're quite good.

The electic versus acoustic decision was a tough one. The reason I really didn't enjoy my first guitar was that I had a crappy little practice amp and no effects...turning the gain all the way up does not a metal guitar make.

After debating the decision for hours, and talking with a guitar player at the music store, he strongly recommended the acoustic. I like the convenience of simply being able to pick up the acoustic and practice some chord progressions without having to set anything up. Also, my living arrangements are still aren't such that I can truly enjoy playing electric. I am enjoying the acoustic more, only because it sounds better, if that makes any sense. I do prefer electric, but don't have the room or resources to get a setup that I would enjoy.

Once I get a mancave, the shift to electric is inevitable.

Pick up Oasis: Definately Maybe. That will teach easy chord progression as well basic scales. That is what that whole album is. You master that, you master basic scales and fingering (and you will impress chicks).

I hate Oasis, so maybe I will learn on some Beatles songs. Also, my wife inspired the guitar purchase, so I only have one chick to impress...and she wants me to learn Staind and Slipknot songs!!!

After you get lessons under your belt, try out this site: Workshop Live It's probably the best teaching site I've seen- world class teachers, a structured lesson set, artists show you how to play their songs, interactive Flash, printable tab...very cool.

Wow, that site is pretty good. I was going through the instructional videos on GuitarWorld. There are some good videos there, but no rhyme or reason to the sequence...i.e. start by learning how to strum and count, then move on to chord progressions, etc.

I am sure my playing habits are already bad. My chord progressions get horrible as I try to play faster, my rhythm is off, etc. I was hoping to learn the basics via online or DVD resources, and then start taking lessons...maybe I should re-evaluate that decision.

Also, FWIW, an electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic. They're more comfortable, you can look at the fretboard easier to see where you fingers are when/if you need to, the strings are thinner, and the action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

I did notice that almost immediately...having to press harder on the strings to hold a chord, the guitar being more audibly responsive to mistakes, etc. Speaking of action, I do get a slight buzz when playing certain chords...assume that has something to do with the action? I believe the music store I purchased it from offered to alter the action once I am ready for my first string change.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
1. DO what Fritzo said.

2. Pick up Oasis: Definately Maybe. That will teach easy chord progression as well basic scales. That is what that whole album is. You master that, you master basic scales and fingering (and you will impress chicks).

3. Take time to actually memorize your scales and chords.

4. Since you want to be a heavy metal slasher....LEARN YOUR SCALES and try to play them faster everytime!

EDIT: Oh and guitar is a learn by doing thing. Best way to become good is to just keep playing stuff you like.

Please don't do this. When you practice a scale, focus on getting every note to ring correctly, and try to make the intervals between each note equal. Speed will come with familiarity, not by force. You're going to sound sloppy and have sync problems if you try to go as fast as you can.

(PM me if you have any questions)

 

[Fritzo]

Also, FWIW, an electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic. They're more comfortable, you can look at the fretboard easier to see where you fingers are when/if you need to, the strings are thinner, and the action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

I did notice that almost immediately...having to press harder on the strings to hold a chord, the guitar being more audibly responsive to mistakes, etc. Speaking of action, I do get a slight buzz when playing certain chords...assume that has something to do with the action? I believe the music store I purchased it from offered to alter the action once I am ready for my first string change.[/quote]

It's most likely buzzing because you're not fretting properly. When you press down on a string, you want to use the tip of your finger---like you're pointing at the note you want to play. If you use the side of your finger, it's not going to make proper contact. Also, you want your finger right against the fret closest to you. For instance, if you want to hit the G note on the 6th string, you hold down the 3rd fret right next to 4th fret bar.

Will it hurt? Like a som-bitch at first. Your skin will toughen though, and it'll go away. One of those technique over comfort things I was talking about.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Gibson486
1. DO what Fritzo said.

2. Pick up Oasis: Definately Maybe. That will teach easy chord progression as well basic scales. That is what that whole album is. You master that, you master basic scales and fingering (and you will impress chicks).

3. Take time to actually memorize your scales and chords.

4. Since you want to be a heavy metal slasher....LEARN YOUR SCALES and try to play them faster everytime!

EDIT: Oh and guitar is a learn by doing thing. Best way to become good is to just keep playing stuff you like.

Please don't do this. When you practice a scale, focus on getting every note to ring correctly, and try to make the intervals between each note equal. Speed will come with familiarity, not by force. You're going to sound sloppy and have sync problems if you try to go as fast as you can.

(PM me if you have any questions)

Hmmm...maybe this is why I play so sloppy....that is how i learned it....😉

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

Not that it helps now, but I would have stuck with the electric. IMO acoustics are nice but pretty boring until you're quite good.

The electic versus acoustic decision was a tough one. The reason I really didn't enjoy my first guitar was that I had a crappy little practice amp and no effects...turning the gain all the way up does not a metal guitar make.

After debating the decision for hours, and talking with a guitar player at the music store, he strongly recommended the acoustic. I like the convenience of simply being able to pick up the acoustic and practice some chord progressions without having to set anything up. Also, my living arrangements are still aren't such that I can truly enjoy playing electric. I am enjoying the acoustic more, only because it sounds better, if that makes any sense. I do prefer electric, but don't have the room or resources to get a setup that I would enjoy.

Once I get a mancave, the shift to electric is inevitable.

Pick up Oasis: Definately Maybe. That will teach easy chord progression as well basic scales. That is what that whole album is. You master that, you master basic scales and fingering (and you will impress chicks).

I hate Oasis, so maybe I will learn on some Beatles songs. Also, my wife inspired the guitar purchase, so I only have one chick to impress...and she wants me to learn Staind and Slipknot songs!!!

After you get lessons under your belt, try out this site: Workshop Live It's probably the best teaching site I've seen- world class teachers, a structured lesson set, artists show you how to play their songs, interactive Flash, printable tab...very cool.

Wow, that site is pretty good. I was going through the instructional videos on GuitarWorld. There are some good videos there, but no rhyme or reason to the sequence...i.e. start by learning how to strum and count, then move on to chord progressions, etc.

I am sure my playing habits are already bad. My chord progressions get horrible as I try to play faster, my rhythm is off, etc. I was hoping to learn the basics via online or DVD resources, and then start taking lessons...maybe I should re-evaluate that decision.

Also, FWIW, an electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic. They're more comfortable, you can look at the fretboard easier to see where you fingers are when/if you need to, the strings are thinner, and the action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

I did notice that almost immediately...having to press harder on the strings to hold a chord, the guitar being more audibly responsive to mistakes, etc. Speaking of action, I do get a slight buzz when playing certain chords...assume that has something to do with the action? I believe the music store I purchased it from offered to alter the action once I am ready for my first string change.

Beatles will work too....but they tend to go out of normal scales...especially in their later music. Their older stuff would suffice, however. If you want to learn slipknot stuff....pick up a Graham Coxon CD (or a Blur CD). Yeah, they are no slipknot, but slipknot called Graham the best guitarist of today. With him, you are going to be forced to learn hammer on and hammer offs. He uses them alot in conjunction with chords....which would acyually play well with your type of music.

 

[Fritzo]

Hmmm...maybe this is why I play so sloppy....that is how i learned it....😉

Get yourself a metronome or a drum program and set it to around 60bpm. Play a downstroke on each beat up and down the scale.

Next, do the same thing, except use only upstrokes.

Finally, use alternate picking.

Do this starting at the first fret, then go down to the 12th (or 15th on an electric).

Skip up two BPM every week.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Hmmm...maybe this is why I play so sloppy....that is how i learned it....😉

Get yourself a metronome or a drum program and set it to around 60bpm. Play a downstroke on each beat up and down the scale.

Next, do the same thing, except use only upstrokes.

Finally, use alternate picking.

Do this starting at the first fret, then go down to the 12th (or 15th on an electric).

Skip up two BPM every week.

yeah...I think this will help with my hammer offs. I can play them fine until i have to play them fast.