The OS Guitarists thread

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

It doesn't really matter. Everyone learns at their own pace. I started off on electric and doing more lead crap (crappily). I learned barre chords later on. I just barely bought my first quality acoustic 1 week ago after 5 years of playing electric. Do whatever you feel good with. You are learning theory too, right? The theory part comes in handy when dealing with the why's and how's of chords, arpeggio's and progressions.

That Buckethead video was ace. Doubt I could play that yet, would probably be easier if I had an electric, ha.

I have not started learning theory yet, basically just learning the basic chords and arpeggios. I've been using Justinguitar.com for a primary resource. Any websites/books/videos you guys recommend on theory?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I thinking this will be mine sometime soon: Epiphone Les Paul

So, I've been learning the "A major" shape barre chord for a song. Not as hard as I thought. I had been trying to it the difficult way with having my middle, ring, and pinky fingers on the 4th fret instead of simply using my ring finger to barre those three strings.

[clipperfan811]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I thinking this will be mine sometime soon: Epiphone Les Paul

So, I've been learning the "A major" shape barre chord for a song. Not as hard as I thought. I had been trying to it the difficult way with having my middle, ring, and pinky fingers on the 4th fret instead of simply using my ring finger to barre those three strings.

Ah barre chords, the A shape and E shape ones are by far the most important. You mention trying to play it "the difficult way", does that way feel more natural to you than just using the second little barre?

If not, I'd suggest using your ring finger to barre the three strings, it leaves your pinky free to wander which you'll get into a little later. I guess both ways can be useful at times. I guess I'm just trying to say that there are plenty things that can only be done a difficult way, so take advantage of the easy way of doing something when you can.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Yeah, I've been using my ring finger to do the second little barre (which is actually barring more strings than the first finger). Its going along better than I had even imagined or anticipated when I thought of the dreaded barre chords, I just have to get the muting of the top and bottom E strings down and I'll be well on my way to start working on transitions.

[clipperfan811]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Yeah, I've been using my ring finger to do the second little barre (which is actually barring more strings than the first finger). Its going along better than I had even imagined or anticipated when I thought of the dreaded barre chords, I just have to get the muting of the top and bottom E strings down and I'll be well on my way to start working on transitions.

I just re-read half the thread, sounds like you been making pretty good progress over the year. Congrats and keep it up! The world needs more musicians!

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Thanks. And this should be in my hands by the end of next week.

[onlybygrace]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

That guitar is yummy.

I had an actual Gibson Les Paul...best guitar I ever played. I pawned it when my band broke up and rent was due...no job...no more Les Paul.

Stupid.

You know its a great guitar when you can pawn it for 750 bones.

[DrStrangepork]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Anybody have any favorite Fall/Halloween songs they like to play?

I like to break out the Munsters theme around this time of year.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

[elicoleman]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

That is damn sexy.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

A couple questions:

Pedals - which ones do you guys use? I'm thinking of either asking for a wah pedal for Christmas or picking one up before then at least. My amp has a bunch of other effects (phaser, chorus, octaver, tremolo, etc) that I really don't need/want any other pedals right now. I could see in the future picking up more pedals.

Scales - How did you guys approach them? Right now I'm learning the first pattern (E shape) of the G major scale, second position (which appears to be the same fingering as the 4th position of the C major scale, correct?) Plus its helping a lot with different riffs and runs. Do you guys think its ever too early to start in on the theory and all that which makes up scales and such? My big question is (other than looking at position charts), how to know which notes to play? I'm assuming it depends on where the root note is and the rest falls into place going down the alphabet? For instance, G in the second position starts on G, then the next note you play would be A, then B, etc? Anyway, I found this website to supplement justinguitar.com's stuff because for some reason scales seem to be more intimidating than barre chords. http://www.guitarfriendly.net/guitar...guitar-scales/




Annnnd....power chords/barre chords are probably the best thing ever right now.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Just a heads up: Musicians Friend is having a sale on strings Nov. 4th through the 11th. Save 24% on D'Addario EXL110 10 packs and 15% on ALL other string purchases.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/superstrings?src=3XFCBK1

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

So any tips for someone just starting out? I think I finally have the time to put in the time it takes to make it worth it. Any good iPhone apps for learning the chords? My biggest problem in the past has been putting everything together once I started to learn the chords.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

justinguitar.com is the best there is for somebody just starting out. It provides structure and good progression to help see improvements and keep you going. Basically, if I could do it all over again I would go the justinguitar.com route, but I would also add in learning some theory and then the major scale positions. In addition to providing good picking and fingering exercises, knowing the scales and keys will help you learn the notes on the fretboard. Plus, the more theory you know the better because then you'll be able to "get" music on a deeper level.

I've only been practicing scales for two weeks or so and I've already found it to be the most beneficial thing I've learned.

[KENYON06]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I don't remember how I approached scales exactly. I think I just learned the intervals (for example the major is WWHWWWH) and just went from there. I would run up and down scales picking and pure legato but it wasn't really a theory exercise, just a warmup thing really.

I got a '77 Kiso Suzuki acoustic a few weeks ago (it's a Japanese Martin D28 knock-off they made before they got their asses sued to oblivion) so I've really been trying to get better at finger picking lately.