A MUSICAL INTERLUDE

[Knobpolisher]

Folks,
Need your help and advice.

As life goes by we all think of things we wish we had done , climb Everest , sleep with Demi Moore etc.
My ambition is that I have always wanted to learn to play the Guitar. Now I am certainly not in the first flush of youth and i don't want to play like Hendrix but has anyone out there taught themselves guitar , have you any advice , what sort of instrument should i go for etc etc etc. Any help will i promise you be very gratefully received.


Cheers.

[Archiebold Stanley III]

I have been trying for years to teach myself and can only play a few chords, i would also like sombody to just show me a few simple songs to master then i could possibly go on from there.

[Manny]

I'm pretty sure I've seen some video tutorials on YouTube in the past. Might be worth a look.

what sort of instrument should i go for

A guitar would probably work! 

[Archiebold Stanley III]

I'm pretty sure I've seen some video tutorials on YouTube in the past. Might be worth a look.

what sort of instrument should i go for

A guitar would probably work! 

Yes i've tried those and they are pretty good, i think i just haven't got the patience!

[Big_Sharps]

The Bagpipe is a very undervalued instrument

[adrob76]

I started learning 17 years ago on an old classical guitar with nylon strings. These strings are easier on the fingertips because it really hurts at first so you need to gradually deaden the tips by using lighter strings - an electric guitar is also good for starting as the strings aren't too bad on the fingertips, but the downside to an electric guitar is they have a narrow fretboard so its tough to learn on, whereas another advantage of a classical guitar is the wider fretboard they have, which again aids learning.

So, i always recomend getting one of those guitars to start on, get a good book, start at the beginning and don't skip any parts. If you're determined to do it then it takes a bit of practice and patience, but once you're up & running then you can try different guitars, more advanced techniques. Good luck  

[267]

Well seeing as I can play both guitar and bass here's my advice. Instrument wise I'd go for a Yamaha, from personal experience the quality/value for money is phenomenal, I've never come across a poor one. When it comes to choosing a classic or electric well it's up to personal choice so I'll let you choose that one.

Tuning wise I'd recommend OnBoard Research's Intellitouch Tuner, It doesn't have to be that but do go for a clip-on type tuner if your learning. It works on vibrations which means you can tune your guitar with World War Three happening outside and also it's extremely easy to use. A chromatic tuner are great for more complex tuning but they are harder to use so only use them if you've come accustomed to your guitar and the limitations of the strings. When it comes to Capo's and for songs such as Wonderwall or Why Does It Always Rain On Me you'd need them I'd recommend Planet Waves's capo.

When it comes to teaching there's millions of different resources online, if you go to youtube for example you'll find various videos showing you how to play various songs. There's also various website out there that can help to teach you such as http://www.justinguitar.com/
If you need to look up a guitar chord I'd personally recommend this website. http://www.chordbook.com/guitarchords.php The program is easy to use and will help you with all the various chords.

If you want a tab or a chord there's also an array of different websites out there. Personally I like to use http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ but there's plenty out there. Be careful though because a lot of the tabs can be wrong so stick to the star system and mainly use the tabs that have 4 or 5 stars. Alternatively if you want to learn some songs quite quickly I'd recommend the Big Guitar Chord Songbook Collection which you can get from most musical instrument shops and also Borders Music section.

And finally good luck Mr Polisher and I hope that was some use.

[267]

Archiebold Stanley try out this song Hanging Around by The Stranglers,
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/s/stranglers/hanging_around_tab.htm

If you haven't heard it before here's the original song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si2kis6lWRg

Another one I'd recommend is If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next by the Manic Street Preachers,
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/manic_street_preachers/if_you_tolerate_this_your_children_will_be_next_ver2_tab.htm

original song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djO7qFfPV_c

Both songs are on a standardised tuning. They both have the dreaded F chord so lets hope you cab bar code. 

[Archiebold Stanley III]

Cheers 267

[RasiakLeGod]

Well seeing as I can play both guitar and bass here's my advice. Instrument wise I'd go for a Yamaha, from personal experience the quality/value for money is phenomenal, I've never come across a poor one. When it comes to choosing a classic or electric well it's up to personal choice so I'll let you choose that one.

Tuning wise I'd recommend OnBoard Research's Intellitouch Tuner, It doesn't have to be that but do go for a clip-on type tuner if your learning. It works on vibrations which means you can tune your guitar with World War Three happening outside and also it's extremely easy to use. A chromatic tuner are great for more complex tuning but they are harder to use so only use them if you've come accustomed to your guitar and the limitations of the strings. When it comes to Capo's and for songs such as Wonderwall or Why Does It Always Rain On Me you'd need them I'd recommend Planet Waves's capo.

When it comes to teaching there's millions of different resources online, if you go to youtube for example you'll find various videos showing you how to play various songs. There's also various website out there that can help to teach you such as http://www.justinguitar.com/
If you need to look up a guitar chord I'd personally recommend this website. http://www.chordbook.com/guitarchords.php The program is easy to use and will help you with all the various chords.

If you want a tab or a chord there's also an array of different websites out there. Personally I like to use http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ but there's plenty out there. Be careful though because a lot of the tabs can be wrong so stick to the star system and mainly use the tabs that have 4 or 5 stars. Alternatively if you want to learn some songs quite quickly I'd recommend the Big Guitar Chord Songbook Collection which you can get from most musical instrument shops and also Borders Music section.

And finally good luck Mr Polisher and I hope that was some use.

Justin Guitar is the best, seriously!

An easy song to learn is Who's to Say by the horrors.

What type of guitar style do you want to learn - rock/pop etc?

[BoltonMad2oo8]

It all depends on what music you are into Knobpolisher! Oasis, Beatles, Arctic Monkeys & U2 is about as far as my collection goes.

You want any help on tips on any of them then just shoot because I have 3 years worth.

As for an axe, go to a shop and try a few, whatever feels comfortable, sounds good to you, has a good reputation and is in your price range.

A website here www.guitarampkeyboard.com has a wide selection and also great service but as it is online you can not test the guitars unless you live in Brighton.

Any help like I said just ask because like 267 I can play guitar & bass!

[267]

But Bolton Mad can you play both guitar and bass at the same time whilst using your feet to grind a Barbie doll in a meat mincer? huh

To be fair I can't do that, but just imagine if I could I'd be on that freak show called Britain's Got Talent. lol

[RasiakLeGod]

It all depends on what music you are into Knobpolisher! Oasis, Beatles, Arctic Monkeys & U2 is about as far as my collection goes.

You want any help on tips on any of them then just shoot because I have 3 years worth.

As for an axe, go to a shop and try a few, whatever feels comfortable, sounds good to you, has a good reputation and is in your price range.

A website here www.guitarampkeyboard.com has a wide selection and also great service but as it is online you can not test the guitars unless you live in Brighton.

Any help like I said just ask because like 267 I can play guitar & bass!

I play guitar piano and violin.

[267]

It all depends on what music you are into Knobpolisher! Oasis, Beatles, Arctic Monkeys & U2 is about as far as my collection goes.

You want any help on tips on any of them then just shoot because I have 3 years worth.

As for an axe, go to a shop and try a few, whatever feels comfortable, sounds good to you, has a good reputation and is in your price range.

A website here www.guitarampkeyboard.com has a wide selection and also great service but as it is online you can not test the guitars unless you live in Brighton.

Any help like I said just ask because like 267 I can play guitar & bass!

I play guitar piano and violin.

Is it just me or is this thread turning into Top Trumps?

[Archiebold Stanley III]

Yea well i'm the northern hemisphere champion at Solo 5 a side underwater bingo, so nerr!!

[267]

Blast Archiebold you beat me again, I'll trade my Madolin playing abilities for it.  lol

[Archiebold Stanley III]

I'm more of Jazz Digeridoo man meself

[267]

Jazz Digeridoo? You've made that card up Archiebold how dare you!

[BoltonMad2oo8]

This seems to be the old 'my dads bigger than your dad......'

As long as people get the help that they want then thats all that matters, the banter is class too though!

[Big_Sharps]

This seems to be the old 'my dads bigger than your dad......'

As long as people get the help that they want then thats all that matters, the banter is class too though!

"My dad will shag your dad"

[267]

"And your Dad will enjoy it"

This seems to be the old 'my dads bigger than your dad......'

As long as people get the help that they want then thats all that matters, the banter is class too though!

But my Dad is bigger than yours, well when he's wearing his high heels he is lol

[wakeywhite]

I taught myself to play guitar years ago (without books and all that bollocks).

I could tell you all about it, but it'd probably be as dull as 267's earlier post, so I won't bother.

[jimbo_bwfc]

This seems to be the old 'my dads bigger than your dad......'

As long as people get the help that they want then thats all that matters, the banter is class too though!

"My dad will shag your dad"

Warren wants a time and a place.

[267]

I taught myself to play guitar years ago (without books and all that bollocks).

I could tell you all about it, but it'd probably be as dull as 267's earlier post, so I won't bother.

Beggars can't be choosers Wakey. 

[wakeywhite]

Fascist.


Equal rights for beggars is now in the manifesto.