Thinking about taking up guitar: any advice?

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 3, 2004, 10:21 am

I have long toyed with the idea taking up an instrument, and am now very serious about trying to learn guitar. In doing so, I seek any and all advice on the topic.

As for my musical background, it's sparse, but not without potential. I played clarinet from 4th to 6th grade, but as I am now 40, I am basically at ground zero with regards to music theory (though have started to re-learn some stuff at http://www.musictheory.net/). I am fortunate, though, in that there is a strong music 'gene' that is quite dominant in my family, as many siblings and cousins have excelled in music, and I believe is present in myself. In short: I would need to start at the begining, but I believe I could learn at a fairly fast pace (the physical coordination of playing aside, of course).

So my questions are the basics:
-Any advice on type/quality of instrument (I do not own one as yet)
-Any advice on how to learn: lessons, self taught (internet/multi-media) or combination
-Any recommended sites on the internet
-Any other general advice

Thanks in advance

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 3, 2004, 10:31 am

I'd say it depends on the style you're wanting to play. I'd almost always say start with an acoustic though.

My other bit of advice, if you're really serious, is to not buy the cheapest guitar you can find. Make sure it's a quality instrument, so with an acoustic that means stay away from laminated tops. You can find some good solid guitars at a fairly decent price. I'm not saying go spend $1500 on a Taylor though. Seagull makes some quality guitars.

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/ has a large source of user reviews if you want to look at different models/brands. As well as other stuff. It's a fairly good resource.

Drolgin Steingrinder · August 3, 2004, 11:04 am

Go to the store - do *not* buy your instrument online. You need to sit with it, know that it fits with your body. In fact, sit in the store with it as long as possible to make sure of it. If your instrument gives you discomfort after a while, you will never want to practice.

I'd start off with an easily tuned acoustic that has decent sustain. Don't buy something that's supercheap, you'll play it for a while and the tuning screws will get out of whack, the frets will losen etc. - but don't splurge on an expensive one either: you're a newbie, and you don't really know what it is you want in a guitar yet.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 3, 2004, 11:10 am

Sorry Drolgin, but the following link is a great place to purchace instuments and gear. If you have lots of money, then goto your local music store. But I guarantee you can find a much better price on what you want here:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

You probably wont find a better place to purchace equipment. Also, as neat as it is to self teach, find yourself an instructor, you can find a good one for $15-30 a lesson. Once you find one you like they will be a great resource.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 3, 2004, 11:27 am

What they said: Buy a decent instrument and start with acoustic guitar first. Way easier to learn the basics on that and then move over to electric later than other way around imho. I haven't played for years but that was how I learned from a really good teacher back in the day.

Oh and guitar and some sports don't match.. heh.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 3, 2004, 1:37 pm

Trek wrote:Sorry Drolgin, but the following link is a great place to purchace instuments and gear. If you have lots of money, then goto your local music store. But I guarantee you can find a much better price on what you want here:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

For equipment, sure.. For the guitar itself? No way. Especially when it comes to acoustic guitars.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » August 3, 2004, 1:39 pm

Trek wrote:Sorry Drolgin, but the following link is a great place to purchace instuments and gear. If you have lots of money, then goto your local music store. But I guarantee you can find a much better price on what you want here:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

You probably wont find a better place to purchace equipment. Also, as neat as it is to self teach, find yourself an instructor, you can find a good one for $15-30 a lesson. Once you find one you like they will be a great resource.

My point was that it's a great thing to buy stuff online if you know exactly what you're looking for. For a beginner, however, I would definitely advise against it. If you're untrained and you get a hard-strung, high fretted guitar that's heavy or too big or too small for your body, you're going to be climbing a very steep mountain during practice hours.

If nothing else, then go to a music store, try out a bunch of guitars, leech on their knowledge and go buy the guitar online. Shrug.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 3, 2004, 1:47 pm

As begginers most do not know what they want or like, so yes you can goto a store and try some out, after that go buy it online if your into saving money. I guarantee if you stick with playing, you will then develope your own likes for guitars and most likely change what you want out of your guitar. I am not saying you should not goto a music store and find a style/brand that you like, in fact I think it is very important for you to do that. Once youve dont that and come up with brands/types you like go find em online for much much cheaper, it is an BIG difference in price.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 3, 2004, 1:56 pm

Thanks, all

You've confirmed my own thinking in some areas, and enlightened me in others. I was thinking acoustic first as well, and I certainly plan on trying them out at the local Guitar Center (this weekend) before I buy anything. And those links look great - I will have to delve into them tonight.

BTW, that's good reasoning for not doing things on the cheap. It's something I hadnt considered yet. Likewise the advice as to comfort.

I am still debating the lessons aspect: I think I could benefit from the interaction, and the structure, so I am inclined to go that route. Others at work have taught themselves, and have recommended that route, however. Like I said, I am still debating it.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 3, 2004, 2:22 pm

Ogbar wrote:Thanks, all

You've confirmed my own thinking in some areas, and enlightened me in others. I was thinking acoustic first as well, and I certainly plan on trying them out at the local Guitar Center (this weekend) before I buy anything.

Check Seagull dealers too and see if there are any local in your area. I own one and think they make good instruments for the price. There aren't usually carried at places like Guitar Center though.

Just don't rush into buying something. Do a lot of research. And true, you can save money buying online. But you don't actually get to play it with your own hands before purchase. Also doesn't hurt to support local music shops. They can be a good resource.

I am still debating the lessons aspect: I think I could benefit from the interaction, and the structure, so I am inclined to go that route.

I'd probably do a mix. Take lessons at first to get the basics down. If it turns out you don't think those are for you, go down the self-study route.

Deneve · Post by **Deneve** » August 3, 2004, 4:59 pm

While they are quite common, I'd avoid Yamaha acoustics if I were you. There are a few people that I run into that love theirs, but myself and a couple friends have found that their only real purpose is as a cheap kick-around guitar.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 3, 2004, 5:43 pm

I went to a lesson once a week and practiced a lot at home in between. Seemed to work fairly good until sports ruined it all! Down with sports!

Swiiter · Post by **Swiiter** » August 3, 2004, 6:44 pm

if you are going to buy from guitar center, remember almost everything is negotiable as far as price (only thing i know for certain that is non-negotiable is Mesa gear since Mesa sets retail prices that all distributers are not allowed to deviate from).

I agree acoustic is the better route to start with. Thicker strings will help your fingers callous quicker, action on acoustics tend to be a lot less forgiving so when you do buy your electric it will seem super easy to play, and most importantly you'll probably hold on to that acoustic a long time, while if you went and bought some beginner electric and practice amp, it would be trash to you in 2 years

Sartori · Post by **Sartori** » August 3, 2004, 8:59 pm

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

Once you get a guitar, no matter what route you take - practice as much as you can make time for every day. It's worth it! I also recommend taking lessons, at least to start with. Human interaction is (usually) much more enjoyable, and hopefully more inspirational, than reading an instructional book or watching a video IMHO.

I think it's awesome that you want to pick up the guitar - good luck!

Truant · Post by **Truant** » August 4, 2004, 5:19 am

Everything listed above is very good advice.

I would like to emphasize some already mentioned items though.

One, start acoustic. It helps build the muscles.

Two, don't go ultra cheap. I have a nice electric, but my acoustic is a no name model hand me down. It is high strung, and high fretted. And when I first began teaching myself, it made it very hard and very discouraging.

Three, I would definately advise lessons. I self taught, and now I'm at the stage that I want to take lessons, because you can only teach yourself so much. It also helps with some practice motivation when you have a set time every week to try and prepare.

Fourth, hope you have a good chunk of free time that is uninterrupted...otherwise you are going to frustrate yourself a lot when you try and practice.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » August 4, 2004, 7:56 am

i play a Fender Stratacoustic.

never picked it up and played it once. got it at musiciansfriend.com.

however, i had been a guitar player for about 8 years. i knew my playing style and the guitar looked like it would fit that style. it does.

i love this guitar. it stays in tune even when i hit the strings real hard. it was cheap too. like $279. it's got above-average sustain, imo. it's not too loud or too soft.

i got a couple stratocasters too. but definetly go with the above advice and get you something unplugged.

learning the guitar on an acoustic makes you a better player. your mistakes will be noticable. there won't be any loud distortion covering them up. you learn a song on an acoustic and play it well and you're golden.

you pick up that electric and just breeze thru the song.

and get some guitar magz. guitar one is a great magazine. almost every page has got some kind of lesson on it. acoustic guitar world is another good one, especially being that you'll be playing one.

once you get it, never stop playing. it's gonna suck at first. you'll press down on a fret and pluck a string and it's gonna sound like ass. but you keep playing, toughen up them fingers and before too long you'll be effortlessly strumming away.

hours and hours of fun.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 4, 2004, 1:23 pm

Wow, what wonderful feedback!

Asl, those guitars look great. What a nice websight they have, too - lots of info there. There are dealers nearby so I will definately check them out when I go looking this weekend.

I think I am convinced, too, that lessons are the way to go. As I said before, and as others have pointed out, the structure and one on one instruction will be quite usefull, expecially at the beginning.

Thank you all for the input: you've helped me out greatly with this.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 9, 2004, 9:25 am

Woot - picked out a guitar on Saturday. I ended up buying the Seagull S6 (thanks again, Asl, for pointing them out). I liked the sound of a Yamaha I toyed with earlier, but Seagull just felt and sounded great to me.

All I can say now is - damn, my finger tips hurt.

Thanks again for all the help, everyone.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 9, 2004, 1:02 pm

Good luck Og!

Looking forward to your first short song!

When you go electric, don't go overboard to begin with. Start off mastering something like Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption" before you jump into the upside down guitar Hendrix stuff! : )

Rayquan · Post by **Rayquan** » August 9, 2004, 1:05 pm

try and learn as much about music before you try writing music. Piano helps a lot. Learning how to read sheet music will help you a ton, even on learning old tunes u might enjoy playing from your favorite bands.

All I can say is, practice guitar, if you are serious, like every day. Practice slow and correctly, anything you find yourself have slight problems, or even big problems with, practice that a lot until you can do it with almost no problem.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » August 9, 2004, 1:12 pm

great news Oggie. I've been playing about 15 years, and it offers a lot of personal satisfaction. I am selft-taught, but i had several years of piano lessons to lay a foundation as a kid. so i guess it just depends on your foundation as to how helpful you will find lessons. and obviously the instructor is pretty huge.

i have a friend who just started playing guitar this year, and he is taking lessons at a University near his house. he has been very pleased.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 9, 2004, 2:03 pm

Yay, someone who actually took my advice! Hopefully it will serve you well.

Did you get the satin finish or gloss? Have to be careful with satin, very easy to ding them.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 10, 2004, 8:24 am

Satin finish, and I saw one dinged at the store, so I know exactly what you mean. It will be (at least for now) the one object I own that I baby.

And don't hold your breath waiting for my first composition, heh

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 10, 2004, 1:34 pm

congrats! I hope you have years of enjoyment. Very nice guitar

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 10, 2004, 1:42 pm

Ogbar wrote: And don't hold your breath waiting for my first composition, heh

You have one year and then I expect a link here to an mp3! It doesn't have to be a #1 hit! ": )

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 17, 2004, 2:26 am

I am a bit late here but... good choice with the Seagull. They make excellent guitars for the price!

Lessons are very important for the novice musician--most of us are not born with perfect pitch so have to develop relative pitch over the years. And yes--practice, practice practice!!

There is no better advice than that!

Good luck on this! It can be frustrating, but your hard work will pay you back many times over! I have been playing guitar for about 15 years or so, but not consistantly, so my chops get dull after a long time not playing. However, even if you do experience a rut or lull or whatever, your fingers will remember what you do not!

Markulas · Post by **Markulas** » August 18, 2004, 11:57 pm

Can't wait to hear Metallica's "One" solo from your guitar soon. Grats and good luck.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 6, 2005, 4:53 am

Winnow wrote:
Ogbar wrote: And don't hold your breath waiting for my first composition, heh
You have one year and then I expect a link here to an mp3! It doesn't have to be a #1 hit! ": )

/bump!

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » October 6, 2005, 11:39 pm

Only Winnow.

Canoe · Post by **Canoe** » October 6, 2005, 11:48 pm

Haha winnow.

Let's hear it ogbar!!!

landertime · Post by **landertime** » November 4, 2005, 3:38 pm

get talking to guitarists you know, and find out what songs they learnt when they started playing. i'm self taught and got all i needed to know from internet tabs from the likes of olga
http://www.olga.net
easy songs for any beginner to learn are the likes of everybody hurts by rem and good riddance by green day.

oh, and just keep playing. for the first few months you will think you're gonna suck for ever, but it takes a good while to get chord progression etc.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » November 8, 2005, 11:17 am

Fisrt song learned was Blackbird by the Beatles. Give it a listen.

Drolgin Steingrinder · November 8, 2005, 11:28 am

http://www.veeshanvault.org/forums/view ... hp?t=13298

just a bump of a resource thread.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » January 18, 2006, 10:56 am

Wow - I totally missed this bump

I am sorry to say, no mp3s as yet, and I think it will be a long long time before there'd be any. But I hold out hope that there may be, someday.

I did take lessons for a few months, but that was seriously derailed after travelling for 3 weeks for work, followed almost immediately by 2+ weeks in Germany. I was also struggling to find the time to practice then, due to work and other real life burdens, so the travel interuption was mearly the beefy branch that broke the camel's back. Even though the lessons are currently on hold, I am still very very glad I took them: I found a great teacher who taught me music by way of the guitar, not just taught me guitar, and a lot of what he told me has stuck.

I am interested in resuming lessons, but I really don't want to go back until I reach a point where I am at least as good as I was when I stopped. I don't want to pay to relearn what I already learned, plus I need to prove to myself that I would keep up on the work: I want to make sure that I'd be practicing more to get better than to reduce my embarrassment at the next lesson.

So where am I with it now? Well, both of my guitars (I picked up an American Telecaster along the way) are always in ready reach, and I pick them up often (I submit the calluses on my finger tips as proof - they are in healthy bloom). I don't play every day, though I seem to pick them up on most. I also tend to play more after I watch others play: not because I wish to put myself necessarily where they are, on stage, but because it's stimulating to watch other players' techniques. I've been watching the "R30" and "Rush in Rio" DvDs a lot, lately: those old farts can really get me to play for hours. But I guess you could best describe my current situation is I'm getting better at what I know, but I'm not really learning anything new just now.

My life's been at a bit of crossroads for a while now (dealing with my wife's illness), but I'm finally reaching closure on some things: a lot of veils are being lifted, so, after many years, a way forward is finally becoming clear to me. I can sense the interest in music swelling in me again, and I feel a bit more confident I can stay with it better now that some lofty weights are finally off my shoulders. I think, perhaps, by late spring I might be ready to resume lessons again - ironically about the same time of year when I stopped, two years prior. I'm not setting any hard timetables, but that feels about right.

So, no mp3s yet, but I hold out hope that one day their may be. Just give me, oh, a couple more years.