Guitar players, pls enter this thread!

[RecordProducer]

I decided to learn to play a guitar. I need it for my music production, plus I love guitars. I am thinking about starting with asteel-string acoustic electric guitar. I guess it means it sounds acoustic, but you can plug it in. I prefer to plug the guitar in the pre-amp/compressor and then to my audio card (the PC) to recording it with a microphone directly as an analogue sound. It's too much work and I'd need to make sure that there is no noise or hum, etc.

 

I know notes and am musical so I definitely CAN learn to play it. I would say it just takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work on my part. But my question is:

 

1. Is it better to take lessons or just self-teaching books/online courses?

 

2. If I decide to take lessons, is it better to have a regular acoustic guitar for the lessons? Can I buy a cheap one just for the lessons if I decide to take them and then practice on the el. acc. one at home?

 

3. How expensive should a guitar be in order to sound great? I want to be able to put it on my tracks so I need a good sound. Is $600 enough?

 

4. Is Sam Ash a good place to buy an affordable, good instrument?

 

5. Any tips or suggestions for purchasing or learning?

 

6. Given that I am already a musician, how long would you estimate it would take me to learn to play? I am talking about rhythmic chords and simple riffs... nothing like flamenco or anything complicated.

 

Thank you very much.

[alphamale]

I tried to learn to play electric guitar 20 years ago. It was too hard to learn and I ended up wasting like $400 on a used guitar and amp. I should have taken lessons but I didn't have any more $$$.

[JohnM]

Having lessons will be more likely to teach you good technique, you could learn something the wrong way and get into bad habits. You can self learn though, lessons will structure you.

 

Don't teachers over there come to your home? If you're going to buy a guitar and are unsure how it will go, just go for a mid level guitar around £200-£250 that should be good enough. The quality of the guitar won't matter while you're simply learning, until you want to record its not too big a deal.

 

If you are going to record over £300 should be decent enough for what you want. I don't know my conversions sorry.

 

I've not heard of that store since I'm in the UK but you could always buy online, be wary of the possibility of damage in transit though.

 

Pick a nice colour , Try to set up a structure of learning if you can so that you don't slip in and out of learning and forgetting.

 

Thats pretty hard to answer, everyones different and it depends on the time you put in.

[a4a]

I play and have for years....... but the damn thing is in my home office collecting dust (thanks for the inspiration to get her out today)

 

Anywho you can get a decent used guitar at a pawn shop to start with.... I did this as a teen. Just make sure the neck is straight and the frets are good... and in good shape. Good actions on it.... blah blah blah.

 

You can get a Takamine Ac. guitar lower end model at a pretty good price. Of course I drool for a Martin the action is so smooth. Go to a big store and try them out....... try them all out..... a couple of times at different times..... and an aged quality guitar will always have better sound than a new one.

 

You may want a cut away...... but go cheap with your first one and you need to really exercise your hands and not get upset over the rough finger tips you will get and your short finger nails too.

 

I would not bother with a elec. amp until you really decide if you like it or not.

 

Lessons are a good idea for sure but you can learn from the net or online... every player with have a different technique as will every teacher..... so it is a matter of finding one that fits your needs.

 

now maybe I will dust that guitar off later today...... thanks!

[Art_Critic]

Oh.. Guitar players .. I'll leave now.. I thought you wanted all players get to get in here

 

 

I see Alpha is here...

[simon_uk]

I would presume that you use your pc for recording your music at present? if this is the case then I would also presume you have quite a high end soundcard?

 

If not, then you will need a dedicated card for recording otherwise you will suffer really bad latency.

 

You can get a good external soundcard for about $200. I use an Tascam US122. It has jack points for Guitar and Mic and also Midi. It is a great little unit.

 

If you do currently use your pc for recording, what software do you currently use?

[blind_otter]

I just started learning when I went to Italy earlier this year we found a little tiny guitar shop where the dude made the guitars, and I got a tiny little 1/4 sized classical guitar that fits me quite nicely. It was supposed to be a gift but the little boy was uninterested in the guitar. I took it.

 

I know how to play the piano rather well, so I already know how to read music. I have a few books and play some exercises and when I'm bored I fool around trying to mimic portion of certain classical guitar songs I've listened to. But I do that on the piano all the time. I'm trying to figure out Billy Preston's "Nothing from Nothing" right now. Oh my God it's so hard I haven't touched the piano in like 2 days. I'm skeerd.

[Moai]

I decided to learn to play a guitar. I need it for my music production, plus I love guitars. I am thinking about starting with asteel-string acoustic electric guitar. I guess it means it sounds acoustic, but you can plug it in. I prefer to plug the guitar in the pre-amp/compressor and then to my audio card (the PC) to recording it with a microphone directly as an analogue sound. It's too much work and I'd need to make sure that there is no noise or hum, etc.

 

Hey you! You will never regret getting into the guitar! Acoustic electrics can be spendy for a decent one. You can get a cheap electric really cheap, and you can play it unplugged in the middle of the night and not wake anyone up! AWESOME! Electrics are easier to play, as usually the necks on them are smaller.

 

I know notes and am musical so I definitely CAN learn to play it. I would say it just takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work on my part. But my question is:

 

1. Is it better to take lessons or just self-teaching books/online courses?

 

I did both. Whatever suits you, actually. Online there are great sites that have the basic chords, easy songs, and videos to help you get going the day you get your guitar. An instuctor, though, will sit down with you, identify your goals, and really help you progress. It all depends on how much time you have.

 

2. If I decide to take lessons, is it better to have a regular acoustic guitar for the lessons? Can I buy a cheap one just for the lessons if I decide to take them and then practice on the el. acc. one at home?

 

I advise against a "cheap" guitar. Once you develop any skill at all, you'll see the flaws in your instrument and you'll hate playing.

 

Don't limit yourself to a "type" of guitar. You can get either an acoustic or an electric--electrics aer easier to play initially, especially if you have small hands. A decent one is also cheaper, and practice amps are cheap, too...

 

3. How expensive should a guitar be in order to sound great? I want to be able to put it on my tracks so I need a good sound. Is $600 enough?

 

It's plenty, see below. The quality of sound has little to do with how much you spend, by the way.

 

4. Is Sam Ash a good place to buy an affordable, good instrument?

 

5. Any tips or suggestions for purchasing or learning?

 

6. Given that I am already a musician, how long would you estimate it would take me to learn to play? I am talking about rhythmic chords and simple riffs... nothing like flamenco or anything complicated.

 

Thank you very much.

 

It is impossible to say how long it will take you to learn to play. Previous experience on another instrument will ehlp as far as reading music and all that, but little in the way of making music on guitar. You rhythm will be super-good right off, I guess...

 

That said, you can start playing the very first day! Learn a couple basic open chords and viola! you are making music! There are great sites with tablature for free that will get you going in no time. Oh--if you get an electric you can start banging out power chords the second you get your guitar tuned. Even if power music isn't your bag, hitting an E power chord will give you shivers the first time you do it--swear to god! And, being able to make "modern" music really fast is what kept me practicing.

 

I have never been to a Sam Ash--but I think that it is the same place as Musician's Friend. I buy most of my stuff from them, as they are dirt cheap. I make sure to get things locally, too, as a good music store in your town is invaluable.

 

If you can shell out $600 you can get a very nice guitar--or two, an electric AND an acoustic. The key is to find the one you like the best. Go to as many guitar shops as you can and play every guitar they have. DON'T PLAY THE ONES YOU CANNOT AFFORD!!!!! All this will do is lead to torture for the rest of your life! I once played a Gretsch White Falcon and now I am in hell forever. $5000 guitar. I am not even any good, really, but that thing was so awesome...maybe I'll steal it...I dunnno...

 

Whoa! Anyway, play as many as you can and find the one that calls out to you. You'll know which one it is, as you'll find yourself gravitating to it. That is the one you want.

 

In your price point you don't have to worry about quality too much, as they are all quite good. A semi-hollowbody electric might do the trick for you, too, and you can get a great many sounds out of them. I have an Oscar Schmidt Delta King that cost me $150 and it sounds and plays like it is worth five times that. Locking tuners, beautiful color, fast neck...love it! Third guitar I ever bought. I have six now. I am actually looking at a seventh....

 

Check out the prices on Musician's Friend. If they have the guitar you fell in love with, buy it there--unless the cost difference is marginal between them and local. I have always had good luck with them.

 

RondoMusic (www.rondomusic.net) is good, also, as they have very, very good guitars for next to nothing. He is in Jersey, I think, so it is tough to try out his guitars before you buy them. I have one of his Les Paul copies, though, and I can tell you that the quality is top-notch and worth WAY more than he charges. His service is the best in the industry as well. If you have questions he'll email you personally.

 

Check out www.guitarnoise.com for help, too. Lessons, advice from players, and all that. Really cool group of people! They will definitely feed your addiction, though, so be prepared!

 

I could go on and on! The main thing, as I am sure you know, is to HAVE FUN!

[Moai]

Sorry RP! I just read through my post and realized that I didn't say anything. I am hungover and just so excited to talk about guitars, I guess!

 

"Cheap" guitars are anything that smacks of being too good to be true. For $600 you can't go wrong if you get the one that calls out to you.

[Pyro]

1. Is it better to take lessons or just self-teaching books/online courses?

 

2. If I decide to take lessons, is it better to have a regular acoustic guitar for the lessons? Can I buy a cheap one just for the lessons if I decide to take them and then practice on the el. acc. one at home?

 

3. How expensive should a guitar be in order to sound great? I want to be able to put it on my tracks so I need a good sound. Is $600 enough?

 

4. Is Sam Ash a good place to buy an affordable, good instrument?

 

5. Any tips or suggestions for purchasing or learning?

 

6. Given that I am already a musician, how long would you estimate it would take me to learn to play? I am talking about rhythmic chords and simple riffs... nothing like flamenco or anything complicated.

 

Thank you very much.

 

1. I don't think that there is one better than the other. With lessons, you have a professional sitting next to you, but lessons are usually once a week or so. With the book/on-line, I would imagine you receive more training each week.

 

2. It is alot easier to learn on acoustic then to learn on electric.

 

3. $600 is enough. I would say anything over $300 is good. I can't help much because both my guitars were Xmas gifts.

 

4. Never heard of the place. I buy my stuff from a place called guitar center.

 

5. Practice, practice, practice. I have a book on blues for beginners. I like it. You should try to learn some blues. What are you trying to learn RP?

 

6. Like question 5, it depends on how much time and effort you put into your practicing.

[Walk]

MEMEME I wanna join in too!!!!

 

I've got an old Oscar Schmidt that my brother bought me for $50. Sounds soooo sweet too. All it needed were new strings. The actions a little high, but not that bad.

 

Then bought my second guitar a year ago Friend owed me a big favor and he worked a guitar store, so he sold me a Alvarez for $250 and a hard case for $50. LOVE that guitar. Smooth action, deep rich sound. And pearl inlay. I joke that it's roy orbisons fav guitar. But my bf said roy orbison wouldn't be caught dead playing anythign that ugly. hahahha

 

Sorry, off track.

 

Only took me about a month to get my hands to go along with my vocals. (hard to judge actual time cause I broke my arm at that time too.) But it really didn't take long to figure out the chords and rhythm. I had a hard time with bar chords, but that's finger strength and dexterity. I still have problems with timing though.... I dont' play enough.

 

I did take 2 lessons when I was 19, and I thought they were a complete waste of time. I learned nothing. Ten years later (I'd given up on guitar playing in the mean while) A friend of mine showed me a couple chords, and a basic strumming technique. stupid stuff like how to hold the pick, etc... and I was off and running with creating my own songs in less than a week.

 

I bet it doesn't take you long at all to learn the basics chords and strumming. You'll probably be a natural at it. Get someone to show you the basics and then head off on your own to learn the rest. I find that easier. You know all kinds of artists, don't you? Can't you con a guitar player to give you a few lessons for cheap?

[RecordProducer]

Thank you all a bunch for your replies, I read them very carefully. I am relieved that I can get a good instrument for $600. I will start by myself and then maybe later hire a teacher.

 

Moai, I want to get an electric ACOUSTIC guitar, not an electric guitar. I definitely plan to learn and use it later also, but I want to start with an acoustic sound. I just want it to be plugged in so I can avoid the microphone and all the setup that goes with it, while recording.

 

I need it for pop songs; rhythm chords and simple riffs.

 

Simon, I have Pulsar 2 audio card and it cost $2,500. I use Cubase as a sequencer.

 

I'll let you know what's going on. Thanks.

[Rooster_DAR]

A lot of it depends on what kind of music you want to learn, as well as how motivated you are too learn. I picked up the guitar when I was 14, and I been in bands all my life, playing lots of big clubs in lot's of cites. I never took any lessons from a professional. I learned best from hanging around other musicians, watching lots of MTV and learning basic music theory.

 

The more you practice the better you get.

 

Cheers!

[RecordProducer]

I purchased a Takamine G Series electric acoustic steel string guitar. It was $600, as I planned. I love its powerful, clean, warm, and resonant sound.

 

Well now I have some questions for you guys.

 

1. What I thought would be difficult (the right hand) is a peace of cake more or less (given that I will use it for recording so I can go back as many times as I want). But the left hand is like OMG! My fingertips hurt and it's difficult to catch the chords. How the hell do I start with that?

 

2. How do I place my fingers in these Yoga positions on the neck when they are not 2 feet long (as recommended by the chord-book pictures)?

 

3. Is there any tonality where it's easier to place the chords so I could start from there?

 

4. How many strings are being played in one chord on avarage? Four?

 

5. How do I use the tuner? I haven't opened it yet, but I have a feeling that I will need your help in advance.

 

6. I found thatweb site for lessons. Do you have any other websites as well? I could use them all. I am sure I will figure this out, I played violin when I was a child and so many people who play it can't be geniuses! I intend to practice for a few hours every day.

 

7. How do I save myself from back/neck/shoulder pain while playing for hours every day?

 

Thanks.

[RecordProducer]

C'mon, guys, show up! I need you. I am fine for the first day, but what the hell do I do on the second day? Should I find a teacher anyway?

 

Don't they make any fake fingertips for guitar players?

[vertigo]

Unfortunately the finger tips will take some time to toughen the skin, that can't be rushed it will take some time before it stops hurting and your fingers adapt to all the wierd positioning, however, if you want to jump ahead a little, with the knowlwedge of the basic chords I suggest you invest a few dollars in a capo. there are a few different types, personally I like kyser capos I have used them on electric, classical and acoustic. If you don't already know what it is, it is a very useful device which will allow you to place it across any fret and play your basic chord shapes and allow you to play in different keys and many octaves without all the actual difficult fingering required to play some of the more diffficult chords. It is very usefull in changing keys to suit your voice while recording also. I'm sure if you get one and try it out you will amaze yourself and experimenting and learning to make the guitar express your feelings is priceless. It sounds like you already have a great recording sytem to work with and once you start playing around you will spend many hours working on finding the perfect tone to lay down on your tracks.

[LaughMachine]

Learning guitar is not difficult to learn how to play. Getting lessons will be beneficial at first, but once you have that first push in too learning how to read notes to play a guitar, you can easily teach your self. Practice is all you need, and the more practice you get the more equiped you get with getting better with guitar. I know how to play guitar. But I don't know how to play good I haven't touched mine in two years. I'm going back to practicing though. And can't wait to get past the sucky part. Once your passed that part and are finally playing tunes that catch peoples attention. Thats when You'll continue to play, Once you know you can. And you can:) The thing with acoustics guitars are that there big and bulky. Alot of people say It's easier to learn on an acoustic. But I much rather have an electric guitar. But Electrics are for more " metal type of music " not always though.

 

And since this is your first time playing a guitar( which would have any effect on anyones fingers ) your fingers will be a bit sore. Not enough to make you cry though. You will have to get used to that feeling but after a while your fingers will get so hard that you don't even feel the new texture that the guitar strings caused.

[Craig]

Welcome to the guitar club RP!

 

I taught myself to play by experimenting with different finger positions, trying to get different sounds out of it and then took some lessons so I can't help you with websites. Google for "guitar exercises" or "guitar lessons" AND online and I'm sure you'll come up with some. Fortunately I didn't give myself any nasty bad habits in teaching myself.

 

Your fingers will toughen up with use and soon they won't hurt at all. You will notice a huge difference between your left and right fingertips though.

 

Take it slow RP you aren't going to be able to practice for a few hours each day to start without excruciating pain in your left hand fingertips. Give it a couple of weeks or so to build your fingertips up.

 

Back/neck/shoulder pain? I don't remember experiencing those things and have been known to play for 8+ hours straight but I look at the guitar as more a part of me than an instrument to be played in a certain position. I play it standing, sitting on a chair, laying down, etc. Maybe if you change your playing position you'll lose the pain or maybe it is just part of starting to play the guitar.

 

The yoga finger positions come with time and practice. What was impossible a month ago becomes difficult today and second nature with time and practice. Start with the easy chords and add additional chords as you learn the easy ones.

 

It all comes down to practice, practice, practice. You are making your fingers do things that they haven't ever done. You'll know you are into the guitar when you can play for fun all (ALL) day and enjoy it.

[RecordProducer]

I plugged in the guitar in my pre-amp/compressor, turned on the reverb and tried to play along with some of my and other people's songs. It sounds soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo f*cking goooood!

 

Not me, the guitar sounds good. I just tried to hit some notes that make sense and it was really lovely. There is a great difference in the sound when it's plugged vs. unplugged. I read some reviews about my instrument and some people said "it's too quiet when unplugged." Well, duh! Cars are too slow when turned off, too!

 

Thanks a bunch for your replies.

 

Vertigo, I will definitely check what that thing "capo" is. I do need a stuntman for my left hand, if possible. I don't intend to impress anyone with my playing, I want to use the guitar as the worst slut - for my recording tracks. I would do anything to produce a better sound. If anyone of you is seriously engaged in audio production, you know that producers are obsessed with the quality of the sound and quality of tracks overall. And the worst part is - we hear what others don't and others hear what we don't hear.

 

Anyhoozes, back to the point... Brittany, thanks for the encouragement. It did occur to me after I posted that my fingers will develop extra skin. It's definitely different from a violin, cuz the violin has only 4 strings, you don't play more than one note at a time (rarely two notes), and you change the fingers very frequently.

 

About the back/neck pain, no, I don;t feel it. That's good. I was just afraid in advance.

 

I think it's this book with chord pics that sucks and they do state at the beginning that their finger positioning is unusual. I do better when I find the positioning myself. Geez, does it hurt. And I hate it when I touch the neighbor-string with my finger.

 

How on earth am I going to remember all the chords I need? And playing riffs seems kinda difficult, too. But I will practice a lot and hopefully I'll conquer it.

[a4a]

do a search on guitar tabs....... you can get some encouragement that way by being able to hack out a few songs quickly.

[LaughMachine]

well good luck! maybe when you make progress( which I'm sure you already have ) you can record some stuff and let us hear it! Once my strings are on and I google some sites on learning guitar.. I'll be playing again...even though I suck! My friend has a beautiful voice and if I learned how to play guitar I would love for her to sing along to sheryl crow

hahaahahha

[RecordProducer]

Thanks, guys, but I still need I will ahve to have someone teach me either online or a human teacher. Are you self-taught?

[a4a]

Thanks, guys, but I still need I will ahve to have someone teach me either online or a human teacher. Are you self-taught?

 

Both here......... big bonus to both ways.

 

Actually have asked the H to join me in lessons.

 

When I get a chance I will shoot you a PM on one guy that has dvds out that was very useful...... they used to be on VHS when I viewed them

 

get a good chord book...... and just start playing chords get your hand used to moving from the A-C-D- E-G then move on Am and the long stretchers Bm Fs......

 

You can practice with a capo so the stretch is not as far at first.

 

Now go JAM!!!! blam blam Black Betty!!!

[RecordProducer]

OK, I started reading/watching the online lessons and I feel improvement already. Of course it's still very, very far from anything I want to achieve.

 

I will pass the basics by myself and then find some very good teacher. I don't want to waste money on the first few lessons where the teacher would tell me how to hold the instrument and how to catch the basic chords. Hubby says I could pick up some bad habits, but I doubt it. In the past, where there were no videos and Internet, people would study from books and it was easy to pick up a bad habit. Plus most of those who started by themselves or with bad teachers were probably not ambitious enough to start from a scratch and develop their skills gradually, with a lot of hard work, and step by step.

 

99% Of people would start with guitar tabs (even the ones who became excellent players so I will do that also, but together with the basic step-by-step methods). So when you want to start playing before you know how to play, you pick up bad habits.

 

I don't know where to look for a teacher, but I have a friend who works in Philly, who is a guitar playe and perhaps he can recommend someone good for me. I'll also check the internet.

 

I read some teacher's web site and he said that what will make you a good guitar player (and I think this applies to everything) is a burning desire and great passion. You have to be irresistibly motivated and into it; live with your guitar and love it. He used to practice for 5 hours a day and he says THAT is the reason why he became so good. But he didn't see it as hard work; rather as fun. Indeed, in order to be able to practice for 5 hours a day, you have to possess irreversible enthusiasm about music. Why? Because practicing - as he states - is not playing your favorite tunes and fooling around with the guitar. Practicing is when you concentrate on the parts that you CAN'T play well and you repeat them until you see improvement.

 

I used to play violin so I know what practicing is. Playing what I knew was a waste of time. The only constructive time was when it was boring like hell. But I didn't give a sh*t about violin. My dad and uncle play violin in the philharmonic orchestra so they were pushing me, while I was resisting like a mule.

 

This time I am eager to learn, because I need it for my other passion (production) and most of all - I love the guitar as an instrument in every sense.

 

Wish me luck!

[Fun2BMe]

If you go to a music or guitar store, they usually have staff that teach or you can ask the workers for a referall. Usually teachers shop there who leave their business cards to get referrals.