Who plays an instrument?

[mgoblue]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

I'm kinda busy right now, but I'll send you a PM for how to best start for me...My problem is that I try to learn some songs or something, but they end up going pretty fast (even lessons I've looked at for "simple" songs) and it ends up not being fun and really just frustrating when you sound like crap and you don't see the end.

I probably should learn chords or something like that, i've basically been finding lessons that explain the chords I'd need and that'd be it. I don't think I've started off as basically as I need to, and I have to somehow make it fun. I don't think just picking songs and learning them is the way to go, maybe I'm wrong. Just hasn't worked for me (not that I've even learned a full song well lol) It'll always be a hobby, and with the little free time adults have, I don't want my hobby pissing me off and not being fun, you know?

Hell, even for me on chords I'm bad at skipping the 1 or 2 strings you have to (you know, on the chords that you don't play all of them). I guess I'm not convinced online lessons can help when starting out and not having anyone else showing you anything, correcting visual mistakes, etc. Just feels like an uphill battle, that's why I quit and end up trying again later.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Yeah, sheet music is nebulous at best on guitar, which is my issue with reading jazz charts, etc. I normally end up just playing instead and it sounds much better than if I were laboring through standard notation... It sucks when I need to get the exact melody for a head (like for jazz standards) and I have to either sit there trying to figure out each note on the fretboard in a good position or just try to approximate it with my ears...

But yeah, I practiced probably close to 8 hours a day over the summer when I first started in 9th grade. I was playing "Wonderful Tonight" by the 3rd day or so and it just went from there. As soon as my internet tabs started to be not enough, I went and got some Hendrix and SRV tab books and just memorized everything in them by playing it as I read the TABs over and over again. Once I got comfortable with all the songs, then the patterns and underlying music theory and technique started to make sense and I was at the point that I can just kind of play blues without thinking about it too much.

But the wrench in the works is definitely jazz, just because it's much more like classical in that everything is in standard notation (or just comp charts) and scale/technique-heavy (especially compared to blues). I wish I was able to sightread a jazz chart -- I just really labor to think about what notes are where beyond the E strings... So even if I can read the standard notation, there's such a large lag making the connections (standard notation --> note name --> multiple positions for each note on the board --> best position to play that song) that I just get frustrated and end up going back to blues even though I find jazz playing ,much more interesting. Agh, I just need to spend some time actually playing -- I've been seriously slacking for the last 4 years...

[elicoleman]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Question: Would it be better to learn on an acoustic, electric or does it simply not matter?

[Bamafan3723]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Acoustic guitar

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Well in the interest of price, I'd say acoustic... just because you can get one at a pawn shop for $40 easily and not need an amp, etc. to really get the most out of it. Electrics require a little more money for start-up, but they're also more liekly to be able to grow with your playing as you move beyond basic chords.

But in reality, acoustic guitars are harder to play because of the thicker strings, especially if you're trying to learn how to play lead guitar. If you just want to bang out some chords and play some of your favorite songs, then I'd suggest an acoustic. Classicals are actually the easiest to learn on in my experience just because the nylon strings are a little more forgiving for unconditioned fingers. The necks are wider on classical guitars though, so if you have tiny hands, it can be a little off-putting to cover that much real estate.

That said, if you think that you'll actually stick with it, I'd get a standard Mexican Fender Strat and a little tube amp (Fender Blues Junior is great, as is the Peavey Delta Blues series), because that's the best tone you're going to get until you make the leap to equipment that costs $500+. And really, most people will eventually want to progress to lead guitar, so I'd probably go with an electric first and then get an acoustic if you end up wanting to be more of a rhythm guitarist. Depends on the kind of music you like and want to play also -- if you want to play Neil Young songs, then I'd probably go with an acousitc, if you wanna play "Purple Haze" or metal, then by all means, go electric.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Re: Classical guitar

In the words of Michael Romeo "Too much discipline for me", haha. I play metal and prog, so some of those classical and jazz sensibilities apply, but not for the most part, and certainly not for full on chord forms. I never had the ear for jazz melodies. I like jazz rhythms, but I never get the "emotion" of the melodies. It literally has no mood effect on me, whereas the cadences of classical make sense to me right away.

Unfortunately, most people who want to seriously study jazz or classical have to train in a lot of theory. I think blues, metal and prog are all a lot more "do it yourself". Less regimented, as you alluded to before.

[elicoleman]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Thanks for the info man.

I got my Ibanez acoustic almost two years ago. I also got a cheap electric for like $50 from my former guitar instructor (had 8 total lessons) but it's got a crack in it so it isn't worth a damn.

Since Christmas is coming up, I was thinking about asking for a new electric. Maybe having a something new would help motivate me to learn and practice more.

What would I expect to pay for an electric for a beginner? $200 or so?

[Bornindamecca]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Question: Would it be better to learn on an acoustic, electric or does it simply not matter?

Like Stumbleweed says, it's really all based on the kind of music you like. As a metal player, I can tell you that finding a used guitar is the best bang for your buck. If you look hard enough, you can find a used guitar in the 2-300 dollar range that really has the sound of a 5-700 dollar guitar. And $100 pickups can boost the sound on a relatively cheap guitar even more, if the guitar is better than those Squire type models they peddle.

Overall, electric guitar is much more versatile because of the FX you can put it through.

EDIT: if you can, take a guitar player with you. Don't trust the store people. A friend who knows about guitars can find a diamond in the rough for you.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Honestly, I'd look around on CraigsList for a decent Fender (or Epiphone if you want a Les Paul brick-style guitar) -- you can probably find a Mexican-made Fender Stratocaster/Telecaster for about $200 used. At a shop, they normally sell for $349 new last I checked (it's been a while since I've been guitar shopping).

Another good brand that is kind of under the radar is Schecter -- they make great guitars and they can usually be had for less than comparable Fenders -- they're really great for metal especially, but I've gotten some nice jazz/blues tones out of them also. I haven't had much experience with Squier (Fender's sub-brand) lately, but their guitars were just passable in my past experience, so I'd go with an actual Fender if you were looking in that direction -- the price difference isn't that great.

Just looking on Musician's Friend, there's about 90 guitars listed at $199 or less, so you definitely have options. It looks like Epiphone has some pretty good-priced Les Pauls like this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=518661

[elicoleman]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Thanks guys, you both have been a big help.

I wish I had a friend like either of you that was knowledgable in guitars, and I would feel comfortable going to him for advice and even lessons. Sadly, I don't have any musically gifted friends.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

And yeah, if you're looking for a used guitar especially, have someone who knows what's up look at it before you commit to buying it. Just FYI, the biggest thing to look for on used guitars (aside from checking that electronics work) is the neck. Basically, make sure the neck's straight. The best way to check is to look straight down the neck from the headstock and see if it bows or bumps up (or twists laterally either direction). There are ways to adjust the neck curvature on most guitars, but in general, if the neck is all jacked up, it's probably best to pass on it unless it happens to be a '62 Strat for $500 or something.. haha..

The dudes at the store will try to sell you the most expensive thing possible, and that's not always the best. As Born said, you can buy a solid (meaning well-made and in good shape) guitar and make it a great guitar with some new pickups or hardware, so don't rule something out just because it's cheaper or not a big name. Schecter, ESP, and Dean all make some nice guitars -- I actually prefer all of those to Epiphone to be honest, but that might just be me.

My favorite way to check electric guitar quality is to play them unplugged and see how long you can hear the note sustain. If you can pluck a note (just pick a string and play at the 5th fret) and hear it for a long time clearly, then the guitar is really solid and the hardware is in good shape. Imperfections in the bridge, frets, or neck will normally make the guitar not sustain as well or buzz, so that's a good way to tell. Also, higher-quality wood tends to help the guitars sustain longer and sound louder acoustically, so it's also a good sign of a quality piece of wood if it holds the note for a long time and is clearly heard without amplification.

And if you want to get an amp, definitely get a tube amp if you're interested in playing anything other than super effect-covered metal. Tube amps sound much better across the board than solid state amps, and if you want to get that SRV tone, there's nothing else that can do it.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

bump

[pfunk880]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Percussion.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Percussion.

What percussion instruments do you play?

[eXperiment63]

Re: Who plays an instrument?

Where are your recordings, btw?

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/eXperiment63/music/

There is a recording of me covering a portion of Outside by Aaron Lewis. I was just testing to see how my recording would come out. Just me and an acoustic guitar.

Sometime soon I'll do the whole song with correct strumming pattern and actually belting it out instead of just barely singing it.