Super noob guitar question

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,058
3
0
i'm just learning how to play guitar. when i use a pick, the sound is so much more "clear" than when i use my fingers. am i plucking and strumming wrong or is that normal?
 

The pick is a hard peice of plastic. You finger is soft and fleshy. Of course the pick is going to sound cleaner.
 

PatboyX

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2001
7,024
0
0
yeah, i prefer fingers becuase i feel like i have more control as far as type of sound than i feel i have with a pick. but i still sometimes i have to remind myself what my fingers should be doing. there are many times i just need to put the guitar down becuase my fingers dont really have it in them to play for a little while.
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
66
91
If you want to finger pick, you have two choices; either learn to use finger picks, or grow your fingernails on your right hand. Personally, I use my fingernails and a plastic thumb pick. :music:

The only hassle is when you break a nail. That's when tou'll learn how a girl feels when she complains about her ruined manicure. :brokenheart:
 

prvteye2003

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2003
3,876
1
0
in your honest opinions (the group), what is the best way to learn to play guitar? I've wanted to learn to play for years and have never done it. This year, hopefully for Christmas, I plan on buying myself an acoustic guitar but have no idea on where to start to learn to play.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
picks are cleaner. although according to your taste, "cleaner" might mean "harsher." at any rate, pick is the only way to go for most rock music.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
Some things sound better with picks, some with fingers. Grow your nails a bit longer on your picking hand, makes a nice difference.
 

iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
0
0
Originally posted by: prvteye2003
in your honest opinions (the group), what is the best way to learn to play guitar? I've wanted to learn to play for years and have never done it. This year, hopefully for Christmas, I plan on buying myself an acoustic guitar but have no idea on where to start to learn to play.

well, first things first, learn your chords... start with open chords, then go to 5th and 6th string root barre chords... after that, you can play lots of things, and you'll know how to build any major and minor chords you will need...

after that, get a guitar "fake" book, and learn to play lots of stuff...

check online for tutorials and lessons... when i first started (bout a year and a half ago), i used This place to start... under "first fret", there's lots of stuff on tuning, open chords, and barre chords...

after you learn the basics, it's all about playing playing playing... just stick with it and play as much as you can...
 

prvteye2003

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2003
3,876
1
0
Originally posted by: iotone
Originally posted by: prvteye2003
in your honest opinions (the group), what is the best way to learn to play guitar? I've wanted to learn to play for years and have never done it. This year, hopefully for Christmas, I plan on buying myself an acoustic guitar but have no idea on where to start to learn to play.

well, first things first, learn your chords... start with open chords, then go to 5th and 6th string root barre chords... after that, you can play lots of things, and you'll know how to build any major and minor chords you will need...

after that, get a guitar "fake" book, and learn to play lots of stuff...

check online for tutorials and lessons... when i first started (bout a year and a half ago), i used This place to start... under "first fret", there's lots of stuff on tuning, open chords, and barre chords...

after you learn the basics, it's all about playing playing playing... just stick with it and play as much as you can...

Alright, thanks Mark. I played keyboard in a band way, way back in high school but never really 'learned' to play, just learned to play songs. Guitar has always been my favorite and it is time that I learn to play. I'll go check out that site. Again, thanks.