Poll of the Day > I started learning the guitar

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm picking up on it pretty quickly too
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Woot woot!
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Once I build up some muscle memory I'll be good to go. It's just awkward right now learning how to hold my hand in ways I don't normally do.

Anyone know any good apps, YouTube channels, websites, etc?

Reading tabs is a bit confusing
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Action53 posted...

Anyone know any good apps, YouTube channels, websites, etc?

Reading tabs is a bit confusing

I can read TABs, but I play solely using Rocksmith.

Whatever method you mainly use, keep going yo!!!
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What kind of guitar: Acoustic or electric? Also, what kind of music are you interested in playing? Tips and recommended videos will differ depending on what it is you're trying to accomplish.

If you're looking at punk or "modern rock", power chords are easy to learn and are used extensively.

If you're looking at quick ways of making things sound more complicated than they are, keep learning chords and then just play them string by string. This is also a good way to learn string spacing.

When teaching new players, I often figure out what they're struggling with most: Rhythm, hand placement, or string spacing. Figure out which one's the most difficult for you and then force yourself to practice in a way that builds up your muscle memory to get past that hurdle.

Good luck and have fun! While practicing will make you better, it's also nice to have a few songs to go to whenever you're getting frustrated - easy songs that are just fun to play. Never let a wall stop you from enjoying the journey. :-)

I have an acoustic Gibson, but may get an electric sooner or later. I'm mostly interested in "dad rock" and some old sad country.

My buddy teaching me started me off with 90's grunge, smells like teen spirit, brain stew, etc.
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Just keep at it and keep practicing every day. It's good that things are progressing quickly for you right now because that will help hold your interest. Your progress will plateau, it happens to everybody, you just have to keep playing even when it feels like you're not getting any better because you will push through it, that's a great time to start branching out and learning new things.
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Man, my finger tips hurt.

I'm still plucking away though, I do better with that than I do strumming. I have the opening of "Down on the Corner" and "Come as you are" down pretty good, I tried "Brain Stew" and "Santa Monica" but my strumming isn't all that good, I have trouble changing chords
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Action53 posted...

Man, my finger tips hurt.

That'll go away soon enough. If you're playing as much as it sounds you're playing, you'll build up your calluses in no time. Also, and I'm assuming you already have (most new guitars come with these), but make sure you're using light strings right now. Heavier strings are harder on your fingers.

can you play through the fire and flames on expert yet?
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KLOUDrocks posted...

make sure you're using light strings right now. Heavier strings are harder on your fingers.

My shitty old guitar had light strings on it but they were all gross and worn out and it was missing the bottom two strings. I replaced them with medium-light 80/20 brass strings yesterday. It's harder on my fingers but I like the sound better
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Action53 posted...

KLOUDrocks posted...

make sure you're using light strings right now. Heavier strings are harder on your fingers.

My shitty old guitar had light strings on it but they were all gross and worn out and it was missing the bottom two strings. I replaced them with medium-light 80/20 brass strings yesterday. It's harder on my fingers but I like the sound better

Yeah, I use medium strings for the most part, and only go heavier for certain tones. I was just thinking the lighter strings would be easier on your fingers, especially if you're just starting out. They do sound much worse though - you're right on that...especially when you start getting into harmonics and such.

I finally settled on "what it's like" to be the first full song I learn. I would have had the intro down perfectly last night had my fingertips not felt like hamburger
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Action53 posted...

I'm picking up on it pretty quickly too

I play bass! Let's jam cut a record and share the profits!

I'm struggling with pull offs
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Action53 posted...

I'm struggling with pull offs

Try to "pick" the string a bit with the finger that's pulling off. Just slightly though.
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