Help Needed: Beginning Guitar

Well, everybody knows that there is only one reason to start playing guitar: To get chicks! Anyway, I don't know of any websites, but Mel Bay books have long been great for learning at any level.

 

Wahey! I had a thread like this a while ago, but now I can pass on advice. Should you want it.

Anyway, I learnt out of a book, but I think www.cyberfret.com looks like quite a comprehensive site. Hope that helps.

 

ebay or local music stores sell used stuff. You can get a decent one in good condition for pretty cheap.

 

Check your local pawn shops. One thing though, take someone who knows a little about guitars to check for things like a warped neck.
Stores like Mars or Guitar Center also have fullscale beginner guitars that can go for pretty cheap too.

 

I found all the chords hard at first

Seriously though, you will find it hard at first to change chords smoothly without a break for you to re-arrange your fingers. It's just a case of practicing constantly until you can do it without thinking.

Just wait till you start barre chords if you find open chords hard...

 

You don't need a "how to" book, those are written by guys who can't get paid to play any other way.

Just get a "fake" book, one where they show the finger positions on the neck, and take your time. Once you learn the dozen or so most basic chords, you'll be as far along as 95% of people who ever learn to play. I taught myself to play 17 years ago with a Beatles fake book. Been playing ever since.

 

Actually F isn't that bad. Look at it in relation to the C chord, its the same basic shape just on different strings.

 

Funny thing about the Beatles, they would have needed a fake book too. Neither Paul or John knew how to read music (Paul still doesn't). They wrote, recorded and played by memory. Kind of shocking, in good and bad ways.

 

Yeah that's what I meant by barre chords. Don't worry if you find it impossible at first- it will come with practice. I thought I'd never be able to do them at first but now I can do them easily with no delay to reposition fingers.

 

Power chords will for the most part be played on only the E-A-D string. If you take your first finger and put it on the fifth fret of the E string then your 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the A string, you will have the basic power chord (you don't have to use the D string for this). Also this is moveable. Same shape 2 frets down is G, then at the first fret it becomes F.

When I have problems with chord fingerings, or scales or pieces or whatever, I play them 10X in a row slowly with out mistakes. If I make a mistake, I start the 10X over again until I can do it. Then you can build up speed, in this case changing chords. So pick two chords of different fingerings and go between them. Remember do it slowly, and also if you feel pain, stop, shake it out and then continue. It sounds like a stupid little thing, but carpel tunnel will sneak up on you quickly if you're not careful.

 

I will resist making the obvious joke.

 

I actually think there are benefits to both. The "how to" books that I used gave me basic information that a fake book wouldn't have. Things like how to hold the pick and the easiest way to shift from chord to chord. Nothing revolutionary, just basic stuff that, as a beginner, comes in handy. Fake books, how-to books, CDs, videos - they're all good to learn from. Use anything you can get you hands on. That's coming from a guy who's been a player for 20 years and a teacher. I've been paid to do both.
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One tip for your sore wrist: You may be holding the pick too firmly (after practicing for hours, a tight grip will make both your wrist and elbow hurt). Get some large thin picks. The size makes them easier to hold and the thin-ness and elasticity will make your strum smoother. Eventually work your way into using thicker picks and decide for yourself which suits you.

 

c'mon it was funny. Anyhow, Carpal Tunnel is a repeatative straining injury. It usually appears in the wrist area. There is a nerve in your wrist that moves back and forth (from your fingertips to your elbow) but it moves inside of a sheath that protects it. well sometimes, when over use occurs, the nerve will become enflamed and the sheat doesn't expand so now there is a bigger nerve sliding back and forth through the sheath causing pain.
For instance many secretary's get it from too much typing. Or guitarist get it because they bend their wrist to play (frethand) and now that puts more stress on the nerves and such. When mine flares up, it is at the point between my wrist and thumb, there is a soft spot and it feels like it is deep in there. Anyhow here is a link I looked up real quick from google.

http://www.ctsplace.com/

There are ways to limit the stress, one is by developing a style where your thumb is more on top of the fret board, another is to stretch your hands and forearms before playing. Also warm up when you play, start off slow then build up. I usually warm up 30-45 min prior to playing anything challenging. Also as I said before, if it really hurts stop, shake it out and find a more comfortable position if possible.

 

tabs man..... it's all about the tabs


http://www.guitartabs.cc/home.php

this site is pretty good, and there are lots of others

 

Tabtalk is pretty good too. You can also do a Google search for tabs of songs that you're interested in.

Here's a link to help you read tablature: http://www.cyberfret.com/reading/internet-tab/index.php