Poll of the Day > I don't know how to play any Instrument, but I just ordered one.

(+) Yeah! (+)

A electric guitar in fact.

No clue on how to play it, or reading music, etc, but I wanted to learn something entirely new this year.

Here's to Sonic and that Bocchi the Rock anime. I'll try not hurt people's ears

nice, which guitar did you get

Learn the Circle of Fifths, that will help you learn how to form chords and which chords sound good together

acesxhigh posted...

nice, which guitar did you get

A cheap Fender - Squier Stratocaster bundle with a amp from Amazon

the amp will sound like shit but squires are usually pretty good. you can change the pickups out for nicer ones and itll sound like a much more expensive guitar (not through your amp though)

you can make a cheap guitar sound great through a nice amp and make an expensive guitar sound like shit through a shitty amp

i recommend looking up tabs for songs you want to learn and using a metronome regularly. Also, look up videos on how to hold a pick. Seems simple but Ive seen a lot of people develop really bad habits with picking when they first start out and it really holds them back

One and a half years of playing and my pinky game is still ass

awesome, my first guitar was a squier strat too, they are really good for the price.
I recommend getting a clip-on tuner if you didn't get one yet.

nice, there's plenty of good vids on youtube for beginner stuff

start slow, try not to get discouraged or overwhelmed

I need to practice more. Its been too long.

I used to know how to play a tuba.

Have a bass guitar I've never learned how to play outside one little tune not even a full song.

You could search for tutorials online.

Have you played Guitar Hero? One of the controller instruments is the electric guitar. Maybe it could help.

Justin Guitar was the best lesson plan back in the day.

fishy071 posted...

You could search for tutorials online.

Have you played Guitar Hero? One of the controller instruments is the electric guitar. Maybe it could help.

This is not a good idea. Rocksmith is a better idea because it uses actual electric guitar and actual fingering. Guitar Hero is to guitar playing as porno is to being a good lover.

Melody_JR posted...

This is not a good idea. Rocksmith is a better idea because it uses actual electric guitar and actual fingering. Guitar Hero is to guitar playing as porno is to being a good lover.

Yeah I was always told guitar hero was detrimental for someone trying to learn

Also see that two members of kiss took on their kids in the game and got their asses whipped.

Sufferedphoenix posted...

Yeah I was always told guitar hero was detrimental for someone trying to learn

Also see that two members of kiss took on their kids in the game and got their asses whipped.

though Rocksmith would be leagues better for learning guitar, guitar hero will teach you how to keep time and train rudimentary finger dexterity

of course it's still a videogame and if you've never played it, you'll get beat by somehow with experience even if you're a decent guitarist

tldr: playing guitar hero is NOT detrimental to your guitar playing skills lol

Gitadora is better than Guitar Hero

Anyways, I've been trying to learn piano for a few years, and this channel has really helped me grasp some theory concepts

https://youtu.be/z3Dy6Mnp5Og?si=JFbE86siWacTloV8

Berating posted...

though Rocksmith would be leagues better for learning guitar, guitar hero will teach you how to keep time and train rudimentary finger dexterity

of course it's still a videogame and if you've never played it, you'll get beat by somehow with experience even if you're a decent guitarist

tldr: playing guitar hero is NOT detrimental to your guitar playing skills lol

I've just heard people claim it. Guess it would fall under trying to master two things at once and some people just don't have the capacity for that. Especially if you link the two together somehow.

I believe you're never too old to at least dabble

I started learning to play bass about 2 years ago. I still suck lmao, but I can play a handful of songs quite well. I feel a sense of imposter syndrome though, you see expert musicians play and it seems like they just know how to make music naturally, whereas I'm specifically repeating songs that I've practiced dozens of times.

I started with a Squier 70s jazz bass, and then around New Years I bought a Harley Benton fretless bass. I love the sound of the fretless, but I kind of wish I hadn't gotten this one because switching from 4 strings to 5 strings isn't as easy as I thought.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/84c863e5.jpg

Sufferedphoenix posted...

I've just heard people claim it. Guess it would fall under trying to master two things at once and some people just don't have the capacity for that. Especially if you link the two together somehow.

nah you should be fine, it's like riding a skateboard and playing Skate, you can do both without really affecting one or the other

i used to play guitar and also had Guitar Hero, didn't really impact me in any significant way

faramir77 posted...

I started learning to play bass about 2 years ago. I still suck lmao, but I can play a handful of songs quite well. I feel a sense of imposter syndrome though, you see expert musicians play and it seems like they just know how to make music naturally, whereas I'm specifically repeating songs that I've practiced dozens of times.

I started with a Squier 70s jazz bass, and then around New Years I bought a Harley Benton fretless bass. I love the sound of the fretless, but I kind of wish I hadn't gotten this one because switching from 4 strings to 5 strings isn't as easy as I thought.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/84c863e5.jpg

nice, you play with a pick or you plucking with your fingers? also don't fret too much about the imposter stuff, you're having fun here and relatively speaking just starting out, wouldn't surprise me if you'd start creating some riffs on your own somewhere down the line

Berating posted...

nice, you play with a pick or you plucking with your fingers?

I use my fingers, I tried a pick when I started but I prefer the sound from using fingers (plus it's way easier).

I bought the Squier from a longtime friend of mine, he always used a pick so the pick guard was pretty scratched up. A few months ago I took some scratch repair to it, and I switched out the strings with DR Black Beauties, and it looks and plays way better than ever.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/9d8ecf2b.jpg

Berating posted...

don't fret too much

I c wut u did thar

Berating posted...

though Rocksmith would be leagues better for learning guitar, guitar hero will teach you how to keep time and train rudimentary finger dexterity

of course it's still a videogame and if you've never played it, you'll get beat by somehow with experience even if you're a decent guitarist

tldr: playing guitar hero is NOT detrimental to your guitar playing skills lol

It is detrimental to beginning and using your fingers properly. People get stuck in the idea of having all their fingers in a line and have to unlearn it. For people who already know guitar it can be helpful for timing. But my analogy about porno still stands.

Melody_JR posted...

It is detrimental to beginning and using your fingers properly. People get stuck in the idea of having all their fingers in a line and have to unlearn it. For people who already know guitar it can be helpful for timing. But my analogy about porno still stands.

no it doesn't, playing the fretboard of a guitar hero controller is akin to practicing a chromatic scale on a regular fretboard

at worst it would simply be not beneficial to your progress, calling it detrimental is chicken little shit

i don't even know why this conversation is still ongoing, i never said to use guitar hero as a practice tool, just that playing it alongside guitar won't harm your guitar playing progress

Berating posted...

no it doesn't, playing the fretboard of a guitar hero controller is akin to practicing a chromatic scale on a regular fretboard

at worst it would simply be not beneficial to your progress, calling it detrimental is chicken little shit

i don't even know why this conversation is still ongoing, i never said to use guitar hero as a practice tool, just that playing it alongside guitar won't harm your guitar playing progress

When youre questioned on something you feel superior about you feel the need to attempt to insult and degrade. Says all I need to know about your supposed expertise and character.

You also complain about the conversation continuing when you are the one expanding upon it attempting to defend your stance. If you dont want to continue youre more than free to do so. But we will see how you are able to handle having a difference of opinion with someone over the internet.

Melody_JR posted...

When youre questioned on something you feel superior about you feel the need to attempt to insult and degrade. Says all I need to know about your supposed expertise and character.

You also complain about the conversation continuing when you are the one expanding upon it attempting to defend your stance. If you dont want to continue youre more than free to do so. But we will see how you are able to handle having a difference of opinion with someone over the internet.

you can feel insulted and or degraded by me comparing you to chicken little, that's your prerogative, it was simply a manner of speaking to explain how over exaggerated it is to call playing guitar hero detrimental to learning how to play guitar

and in the same vein you can feel that i feel superior on this subject, when there's nothing to feel superior about, there's also no stance to defend because your statement is simply wrong

i didn't feel like continuing this convo because it was just an inane statement on your part, in a topic that was pretty positive and i don't think there's any merit to keep on rambling about it

again, there wasn't any intention to insult you, therefor i also don't feel the need to apologize, but i'll once more say that the guitar hero being detrimental topic has reached an end lmao

Learning proper technique early on will save you from years of bad habits and actually making playing harder than it has to be. Posture, hand placement, how to hold the neck, the pick, arching your fingers to fret notes without muting other strings, etc. Are all very important. The best way is to train with someone in person, but if you can't do that then there should be a bunch of Youtube videos that outline all these things.

As a beginner, I recommend starting with learning the major and minor chords A through G, saving B and F for later as they are the hardest for new players. Practice the shapes they are in, and then moving between the chords. A to C, A to D, A to E, etc.

Set a rhythm pattern, 4 to 8 strums each chord and then move on to the next one, strumming the new chord in time with the pattern you've established.

Once you've done the strumming exercises with the chords, repeat them, except now you're hitting each individual string one at a time, up to the higher string, then back down to the lower and repeat, then change chords. Again, trying to keep a consistent speed and time - even if its very slow.

Yes, your fingers are going to the hurt the first few weeks as you develop calluses. (Though not as badly as if you were playing on a steel string acoustic, they'll shred your soft fingertips)

Also, buy a few different picks with different thicknesses and sizes to see what you like best. (I like a pretty standard Dunlop Tortex 1.0 mm)

And that should get you through the first couple days/weeks. Have fun!

Man I remember taking a beginners guitar class at the local community College. I just happened to be the few with a steel string guitar while everyone else had nylon. I hated the steel. Hurt my fingers. Made me not want to play as much so I never got any good.

So much for not wanting to continue a conversation. I wonder what its like to be so fragile over a difference of opinion.

i know how to play every instrument.

ConfusedTorchic posted...

i know how to play every instrument.

Even the triangle?

Guitar is here!

https://imgur.com/a/XfDQAFK

https://imgur.com/a/75AHGnK

cool

MechaKirby posted...

Guitar is here!

https://imgur.com/a/XfDQAFK

https://imgur.com/a/75AHGnK

Well... that checks out... I mean, it certainly LOOKS like a guitar. But I'm still reserving judgement that you may be up to something...

Looks sick, didn't know you were left handed

your guitar is backwards.

Justin Guitar is a good reference for learning to play some stuff

Thanks for all the advice, guys

Now my fingers hurt

This is far more fun than I thought it would be

What have you been practicing? =)

MechaKirby posted...

Thanks for all the advice, guys

Now my fingers hurt

This is far more fun than I thought it would be

My fingers hurt just thinking about it. If I ever get around to playing again Ill be feeling the same thing.

Im glad youre enjoying yourself. Music is a wonderful thing to make.

Hey, a fellow lefty! How cool

If you keep it up, you'll be happy to know that you'll never turn into one of those guitarists that worry more about buying new guitars than actually playing them, because there are no guitars to buy. :-)

And to reiterate what other people in this thread have said already: If you don't take lessons, Justin Guitar's beginner course is completely free and a very structured way to learn a lot of guitar.

I did that with lockpicks. I'm looking for a way to get started now because LockpickingLawyer got me in the mood.

joemodda posted...

What have you been practicing? =)

I went along with Justin Guitar and just working on the beginner stuff. Just practicing Chord switching between A & D

Right now the hardest part is of course the switching, but holding the pick properly

Starting with chords is good but also practice your scales and modes and you'll begin to understand how chords are put together

I wouldnt even fuck with scales until I had all the chords down if I were him.

Holy shit inflation hit musical instruments hard. I know to buy a euphonium in high school was like $250 and they're like 500+ now.

If you're a fan of Hades you should check out this tutorial for Good Riddance, taught by the composer himself. Its honestly a dead easy piece to learn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnq8dZYH_tg

Zareth posted...

Holy shit inflation hit musical instruments hard. I know to buy a euphonium in high school was like $250 and they're like 500+ now.

Oh shit I also played Euphonium in school

DirtBasedSoap posted...

I wouldnt even fuck with scales until I had all the chords down if I were him.

chromatic scales up and down the neck with a metronome will do wonders

Scales are less complicated to learn than chords depending on how you break them down. But understanding how the major scale works will help to understand why chords/chord progressions are structured the way they are