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Post by Mitchell on Jan 2, 2012 21:07:02 GMT -5
So I've never played before. I haven't really played an instrument since high school, but I'm so far having fun with it. So in the last week, I've learned how to read tabulature and have learned a handful of chords: E, Em, A, D, and G. The C family is a bit hard for me to finger right now. I'm building up my callouses too . So my question for all the axe wielders in here, as someone starting out, what would you recommend I work on learning first. I really like blues if that helps at all. I'd also like to transition to bass at some point, so are there skills, fingerings or chords that transition well to bass?
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 3, 2012 4:29:29 GMT -5
Congrats!
Once I got the basic chords and strumming down, the first picking thing I learned was House of the Rising Sun. It's simple but a good starting off point. Once I got that down, I was able to eventually graduate to Stairway to Heaven and Norwegian Wood.
There's a lot of stuff on Youtube... this shows some picking styles...
This guys shows some blues scales...
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Post by TheNewMads on Jan 3, 2012 8:40:50 GMT -5
it's always funny to me that people put out "House of the Rising Sun" as a good intro song for beginners. I've always thought that song was actually a bit tricky because it has those varying glissandos -- five notes for the A and C, four notes for the D and F, six notes for the E, but each in the same amount of time.
I was kinda a buttrocker so the first songs i learned, as i recall, were "smoke on the water" and the signature riff for "purple haze." those are good for learning to control an electric tone with gain on it; if you're doing acoustic, probably not so much.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Jan 5, 2012 16:33:35 GMT -5
I really like blues if that helps at all. I always recommend beginners to learn the blues. All players need a good handle on the standard 12 bar progression and it's variations. When people get together to play and they don't know the same songs you can always jam to the 12 bar. It's like the musical Rosetta Stone.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Jan 5, 2012 16:45:25 GMT -5
I really like blues if that helps at all. I always recommend beginners to learn the blues. All players need a good handle on the standard 12 bar progression and it's variations. When people get together to play and they don't know the same songs you can always jam to the 12 bar. It's like the musical Rosetta Stone. Phanty speaks true. In all honesty, devote some hours to looking up lessons on youtube. Find people or styles you like and read the comments. That will lead you to the right resources. The best thing about youtube now is that almost every book or dvd out there now has samples online or people recording their exercises so you'll know exactly what you're getting and if it's what you want and what you're comfortable practicing with your skill level.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Jan 5, 2012 17:08:30 GMT -5
And something went weird when I tried to edit that, so sorry for the double post.
Blues scales (or scales in general) are always good. They'll train your fingers to move up and down and across the strings which chords alone won't do as well. You'll also just start to learn the neck and know what the notes are rather than just where to put your fingers for chords. And blues scales are transferable to bass, both directly in some cases and scales are more like what your fingers will do on a bass than chords, anyway.
Styles are more personal. It also depends on whether you have an acoustic or electric. I only play acoustic, so I know jack about how to get an electric's tone right. (When I play an electric, it sounds like I'm banging on it...and I don't even pretend to know the actual electric/pedals/knobs-and-buttons parts.)
When I started, I was fascinated by Chet Atkins and a few classical people, guys who didn't play with picks, or "fingerstyle," basically. So I learned traditional classical form and technique. But I also loved the way rags sounded on guitar. In fact, this was the first song I ever memorized (this is just some dude):
So I hunted down stuff that would help me with that. I wanted to learn different picking styles in addition to classical form. So I had standard books for classical (and I can tell you what those are if you're interested, but I doubt it), but I also tried to learn stuff like basic alternating bass, which is common in blues, too (cut to about halfway after he's done "singing" the song):
And a slightly more advanced form of that called Travis picking:
Those two techniques on an acoustic can give you enough to play all kinds of simple stuff.
(By the way, those two videos were just the first that popped up on youtube...no special recommendation.)
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Jan 5, 2012 22:58:49 GMT -5
I'd also like to transition to bass at some point, so are there skills, fingerings or chords that transition well to bass? The bass is the same as the four lower strings on the guitar. E, A D G. So familiarizing yourself with the notes on those strings will help. And notice when you play chords where the root note is because on bass that's what you will emphasize. I think it's good for bass players to start on guitar. So did you get an acoustic guitar? That's what most people start with but electrics have thinner gauge strings and are easier to play.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Jan 5, 2012 23:51:37 GMT -5
And if you want to have some fun, and you actually have an electric or an acoustic with on-board electronics, there's a very fun ipad/ipod toy you can snag: www.ikmultimedia.com/irig/features/That and the app that goes with it (sold separately, natch) will give you a decent virtual pedal setup and effects mixer just to have fun playing and even doing some simple recording. (But if you have a "natural" acoustic without a mic, then sorry...but you can get a soundhole mic if you're desperate.)
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Post by inlovewithcrow on Jan 7, 2012 7:29:50 GMT -5
I can't recommend enough Justin Sandercoe's free lessons: www.justinguitar.com/ On the left hand side do the beginners course, then pick through for what you like: the blues course, individual songs. for blues, it'd be great to find a partner to work with once a week. One of you do a 12-bars shuffle, the other noodle around the blues scale for solo, then you switch. Also, look at videos of various blues people performing and pick out their solos. (Or better yet, do it by listening and picking out--ear training is very useful) Congrats and good luck.
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Post by Mitchell on Jan 7, 2012 14:42:48 GMT -5
Thanks a lot guys for all the help, I knew I was asking the right crowd!
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Jan 7, 2012 17:26:50 GMT -5
So, are you shredding yet?
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Post by Mitchell on Jan 7, 2012 22:51:23 GMT -5
So, are you shredding yet? I wouldn't say "shredding," but since Wild Thing is A, D, E, and G chords, I was practicing that and all of the sudden my wife starts belting out the words from the other room. Just the fact that what I was playing was even recognizable gave me my first HOLY CRAP THAT'S COOL moment. I've started working on scales and playing in position. I've been working center notes on the strings like you recommended. I can already tell that three weeks of practice is bearing fruit. I'm having a blast with it even if I've only graduated from Horrible-Crappy-Beginner to Extra-Sucks. Fun stuff. IT STINKS!
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 7, 2012 23:09:29 GMT -5
Here's my advice: Get a copy of Back in Black, learn the riffs, BOOM! You're a rock star.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Jan 7, 2012 23:22:30 GMT -5
Just the fact that what I was playing was even recognizable gave me my first HOLY CRAP THAT'S COOL moment. Ah, the memories. Seriously Mitch, those moments are cool and keep you going. Little victories add up to big ones. It's work but it's worth it.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Jan 8, 2012 0:07:40 GMT -5
We should have a meetup jam session. Ratso can play tambourine and sia will be our Catalina Caper-esque dancer.
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