Got a new guitar... yuss!

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YouKnowWhoIBee

my avatar is better.
I decided to pick up a new hobby besides drinking and video games. So instead of buying guitar hero 2 for the xbox... I bought a Takamine acoustic guitar. Any thoughts on the brand? Any hints or suggestions to help me learn how to play. I figured id buy a nicer guitar instead of a cheap yamaha.... or fender.

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I like the matte finish, and from what i researched and heard in the store, it sounded smooth. I didnt pay this much but here is a link to the major guitar retailer in my area. Buy Takamine GS330S Acoustic Guitar online at Guitar Center
 
the us-made takaminies are some of the best around.

the korean ones, are on-par with pretty much all the rest.
its a good starter guitar none-the-less.


what i always tell everyone learning to play accustic guitar for the first time.

buy alice in chains, jar of flies EP.

its nice music that most people will recognize, most of it is pretty easy, but even more so, on the 7 tracks, nearly all use a different technique.

ie,
rotten apple and nutshell focus on open chord strumming
i stay away, focuses on drop-d tuning and more power-chrod based progressions used in harder rock
no excuses uses sliding open barre chords
don't follow and whale and wasp use alternating picking
swing on this uses some weird shit... lol walking blues lines, flatted 5ths, 7ths, and all kinds of cool stuff :)

i really think its the best cd to learn from, as it covers SO many aspects of playing guitar in one anice easy to listen to disc :)


note, AIC tunes to to Eb (down 1/2 step from normal E tuning)
Amazon.com: Jar of Flies: Music: Alice in Chains
 
I didnt know there was so much out there as far as guitars go. I have learned so much in the 2 days i have had it. Alice and Chains and i heard all nirvana... if my ears dont bleed first. Nirvana is all power chords and will help with basic skills also. I ordered the alice and chains right now... cheap and i need som musical insight :)

Being made in america is different? I got it for 210 bucks... which was a good price to me. I feel it has a smooth sound to it. I am learning pick control now... 4-1-3-1-2-1 is all chords.
 
don't bother with nirvana. you'll never be happy with how it sounds on the accustic and you'll get bored of it fast.

days of the new and tantric are also good stuff to practice, but most of their stuff is VERY advanced, and is not good learning material.

200 bucks is a good price for that. again, its a starter guitar, and thats what you are- a starter player. as you get better, you will realize that the more expensive guitars 'feel' better.

"good" acoustics are in the $1000-2000 price range

it's like wine.
most people on here probably couldn't tell the difference between a $20 bottle and a $50 bottle.
until, you start to KNOW wines and what to look for. then you can tell the difference and realize what the $50 bottle has that the $20 doesn't.

the action (strings distance from fret board) is the huge thing with better guitars. as you go up the neck, it generally gets father away from the fret board. on a good guitar, its flat all the way up, without buzzing.

i have no idea what this means:

am learning pick control now... 4-1-3-1-2-1 is all chords.
Click to expand...
 
E:------------------| #1
B:------------------| #2
G:------------------| #3
D:------------------| #4
A:------------------|
E:------------------|

I am hitting each individual string from 4 down, so in this order 4-1-3-1-2-1, while holding each note. So I am practicing pick control and hitting each chord while holding a note. I have to be able to have full control of my right hand first before i can worry about my left.
 
I played that exact guitar at the guitar center here and I loved the sound, but it was hard as hell to keep it. The strings were probably stiff as hell, it was a month or so back. I've had the same ebay no name guitar that has its problems since I started playing again, which has been the past 8 or so months. I've had the money to buy a new guitar the whole time, but this thing sounds pretty good and I beat the hell out of it =). I play it everday... Oh, and I also have a Johnson, but I don't touch it for some reason. No pun intended.

B is right about the Alice in Chains album, but what I find extremely important is to make sure I learn a new and easy song often to keep myself into it. Sitting there practicing the same hard song for two days to only get the intro sounding clean can be a downer sometimes. What I'm saying is that if you find those songs hard, go on youtube and you will find countless instructional videos for easy songs.

If you want I can make you a very explanatory video with close ups on my hands to play some very simple songs to help you out. I got laid off and have free time =D. Once you learn a few main chords and get them down, you're playing will be enhanced like whoa.
 
For beginner I prefer electric guitars. The strings are not as taut so it's easier on your fingers.
 
My internet is constantly going on and off, but I recommend this song. I can't make a vid myself, I wouldn't be able to upload it. It took me forever to get the 4 pics below on photobucket. It should be fixed tonight/tomorrow morning. YouTube - Acoustic Guitar Lesson Green Day Good Riddance Time of Your
Lame or not, it makes awesome practice :D
My internet is too screwy for me to watch it at the moment, but that guy is usually pretty good for teaching. This is one of the first songs I learned. It can be strummed, plucked, or both at the same time, so the practice doesn't end for your pick hand once your fret hand has the chords down.

The vid should go over the chords, but here's a close up of the ones I use just in case. Mine shouldn't differ from the vid's, it's commonly played this way. I may mix up a few of their names.... It's a pain to commit all of them to memory.
G
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C(Not a plain C, but can't remember the name) My thumb is simply resting on the 6E string to silence it. You can use the tip of your middle finger if you find it more comfortable, but make sure you're still planted solid on the fifth string.
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D(Not a plain D, forget again =P) My thumb is resting on the 6E string again to mute it.
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Em(m for minor)
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If you find a song you want to learn or give me a good idea of bands/genre maybe I can help you with a song you really like(Unless you really like this one). Let me know if you want any extra help for this song. I don't know if he goes over the way to pluck it, so let me know if you need/want to know that way.

-Sean
 
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K2e2vin said:
For beginner I prefer electric guitars. The strings are not as taut so it's easier on your fingers.
Click to expand...
Acoustic FTW! I've noticed learning things on the acoustic makes an electric seem easier. Well, that is if you're playing the things you already learned on acoustic. Shredding and what not is a no go for learning on the acoustic ^_^ I love me some distortion, but the playing styles are pretty damn different. I'd like to buy an electric one of these days. Until then, I'll continue to get my dosage of distortion on other's dollar. =)
 
I understand, I've had an electric in my hands numerous times, but I'm saying that if you want to play clean chords and plucking, it seems easier on the electric after learning on an acoustic. Whenever I touch them, I usually throw the distortion on within the first 3 seconds =P
 
i got into playing the guitar back in high school.. my friends all had electic/ acoustic guitars, so i bought a bass.. i didnt stick with it though.. wasnt really satisfied the way the bass was to play.. but my buddy had a fretless bass that was a blast to play.. much easier than a fretted one
 
Kanned said:
C(Not a plain C, but can't remember the name)
Click to expand...

Cadd9

D(Not a plain D, forget again =P)
Click to expand...

Dsus4

Em
Click to expand...

actually, Em7

Blanco said:
You should worry about both hands at the same time. If you're right handed, your left (off) hand is your weak hand...like pretty much everyone else.

Here's a good fretting exercise. Put your first finger on the first fret of the first string and do a continuous hammer-on/pull-off for five seconds with your second finger, then third, then pinky, and back. Strive to make each note clear and even.

And don't worry about something being easy because there's an art to simplicity that a lot of young (new) musicians simply don't understand.
Click to expand...

:werd:

transitions are the hardest thing.... going to the next chord without skipping a beat is the hardest thing for new players IMO.


eg6sir said:
but my buddy had a fretless bass that was a blast to play.. much easier than a fretted one
Click to expand...

ROFL.

fretless instruments require you to have perfect pitch. its a MUCH harder instrument than a fretted one.
 
Fretless > frets. I grew up playing violin before picking up guitar and I still miss the freedom of a fretless neck.
 
Damnit B, you googling sumdabitch! I kid, I kid =D. I know they aren't that hard to remember, but I never bother with the names even though I use 'em all day =P. I do have the internet and a book in front of me, but that would require effort.

Fretless guitar is fun, but I agree with B. You're constantly ringing out random pitches. But hey, if you can do it more power to ya. How's the practice coming, youknowwhoibee?
 
i've been playing for 15 years, have taken classes in music theory, can tell you the notes of all the modes, and so on... no goolging is required.
 
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