The OS Guitarists thread

[CS10029]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

What do you do? I mean, its not like I expect not to get grooves but when they get too deep to keep the smaller strings down its frustrating.

Just keep playing man. Try to use the "grooves", as sort of placements for the string. Your getting those from constantly putting your fingers over the string, in the same linear direction (with the string). What will end up happening is your calluses will get harder, and cover a larger area on each finger. It'll happen, you just gotta keep playing... when it hurts the most, is when you are making progress (callus wise at least).

This thread taught me how to spell callus I think, so my help might be, helpless.

EDIT- Great idea for a thread by the way, whoever started it. I've seen this a few times, but kinda shrugged it off to post in here.

I started playing drums first, when I was 13. At about 15 I think, I put a crack in the ceiling of the apartment downstairs. I'm 22 now, and that was the day I picked up the guitar for realz.

They were the landlords (house owners), also they already hated the drums anyway, seeing they are so old fashioned. I was sorta forced to pick up the guitar, honestly couldn't live without playing an instrument. Ever since then I've been playing pretty consistently, acoustic and electric (I dabble in bass, but who doesnt?).

I'm gonna read from the beginning now, something tells me I'm gonna learn a couple things.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I would use the heaviest strings possible. Better sound, intonation and it should help with this issue. Playing near the fret will help but its not always practical.

I'm using 13's Martins. Pretty much the only strings I have tried on my guitar. I've played some of my friends and they use lighter strings. I like that they are lighter and therefore easier to hold down, but don't dig the sound of them much at all.

To answer Kenyon's question, I am playing near the fret whenever it is practical, but for the A chord its damn near impossible to get my index finger more than halfway to the fret without pushing my middle finger up/out. Not to mention when the fingers are that close together it makes it harder to transition to.

Really the only thing that bothers me is when I play D since the groove in my middle finger is too deep for the first string.

Before I posted the "grooving" question, I was reading on a couple sites about callus maintenance. I read that EC would dip his tips in rubbing alcohol and I came across a message board where the guys were talking about using emery boards? I've noticed that when the outer layers of my calluses flake off, my fingers don't groove nearly as bad. Perhaps I'm over analyzing and just need to keep my head down and keep at it.

Just curious, but for those of you who started on an acoustic, when did you decide the time was right for an electric?

[Guffers]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

It also sounds like you should raise the action as well. Which is the height of the strings from the frets. You can get it done at any guitar store. That would completely solve your issue I think.

[CS10029]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

It also sounds like you should raise the action as well. Which is the height of the strings from the frets. You can get it done at any guitar store. That would completely solve your issue I think.

Speaking of adjusting the action, I really, really need to get that done for my acoustic. I've had the guitar for at least 5 years, and don't think I have done it once. The 3rd fret on the E, (G), always tings out, and won't ring clean. Makes open chords sound pretty haggard.

Guffers, would adjusting the action fix that? It would right?

[Guffers]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Yep it should sort it out. Anytime you buy a guitar you should get it professionally set up straight away then once a year at the least after that. That will fix any issues and ensure its working as intended.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Anybody know of any good resources to learn slide? I got a dvd off of netflix. The guy is doing pretty simple songs (Little Red Rooster), but he doesn't really explain what he is playing or how he is playing, just kind of plays at the camera.

[Guffers]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I'm a rubbish slide player! All I know is you don't press down very hard and you play directly over the fret wire. Also you need to develop a subtle vibrato to keep it sounding vocal and natural.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Yeah, all I've been practicing for slide is the beginning of In My Time of Dying by Led Zeppelin which is like a 2nd generation cover of Blind Willie Johnson's Jesus Make Up My Dying Day. I should start working on some Elmore James and Come On In My Kitchen but I wish I could find a good source for some slide information. I wish I had a second acoustic so I could do alt. tunings because I don't really want to tune my main/only guitar to open G or whatever else and then back again.
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Also been doing a lot more fingering the past week or so. I borrowed the first Esteban dvd from a guy at work and while I'm kind of beyond most of everything, he really focused on the arpeggio and fingering, so I've been working on that. It is actually quite fun to just mess around doing different finger patterns with the chords I know so far.

EDIT: I forgot to ask, but does anybody have any good (beginner level) songs for arpeggio? All I have been working on is Wonderful Tonight and an Esteban song along with something I made up.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Just curious, but when did you guys approach barre chords or does it really matter? That's pretty much the only stuff that is looming are the E shape and A shape barre chords. Then on to scales.

[Indian Joe]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

This is probably a stupid question, but I just wanted to make sure before hand. Anyway, when buying an electric guitar, do they all come with a power cable or do you have to buy it separately?

Also, what strings do you guys use on your electric guitars?

Ernie Ball Super Slinky

[onlybygrace]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I like Elixers for acoustic and whatever for electric...as long as the gauge isn't too tough for lead play.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

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

[Chaos81]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

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

I know this really isn't quite what you're getting at since it's so simple but,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qt2zuMLi44

[Gibbz]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

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

This is pretty easy to play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZTxAUqGL4

I love Buckethead's Les Paul too. That thing is so sick. I'd love to have one.

[KENYON06]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Just curious, but when did you guys approach barre chords or does it really matter? That's pretty much the only stuff that is looming are the E shape and A shape barre chords. Then on to scales.

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.