Guitarists!

[snapshot]

Bending of the strings happens to the best of us. If you're aware you're doing it than you can conciously put an end to it. The guitarist of my last band would always yell at me for bending the strings. I didn't even know I did it until he pointed it out to me.


When you're buying a guitar I look for 3 things. Sound, balance, and action. Once you find a guitar that's aesthetically suitable you put on a strap and see how it feels. I don't like my guitars neck heavy so if the next drops down while I have the guitar on I won't buy it.

Next is the action, or how close the strings are to the frets. You want them as close as possible before the strings begin to vibrate on the frets. If they are too far away you'll notice how hard it is to get a clean note.

Last it sound. Play the guitar you want to buy on the most expensive amp in the shop and just strum the thing. How's it sound? That's all up to you.

[snapshot]

Ok well don't laminate your list just yet I'm sure there's some things of use that I left out but I've been up for 12 hours and its 10 in the AM and don't feel like being too verbose right now.

[foremanfan]

Originally Posted by L.V.Dubb

Damn, I wish I caught this thread earlier. I am in the process of buying a guitar, and starting lessons, hopefully, private lessons. So, I have a couple of questions for all you seasoned vets. Well, First question:

IYHO, how hard is it to actaully learn how to play?

Second question is:

I heard from a couple of different people to start off learning guitar with an acoustic opposed to electric, reason being, supposedly the acoustic is the "hardest" guitar to learn and play, and if you start with acoustic, all the other type of guitars you can play too, including bass. Is this true?

Third & Fourth question:

I am left-handed, so, I will need to use a left handed guitar. Does this make it harder to learn the guitar? If I do get taught by a tutor, most people are right handed. If he/she is, will they still be able to "teach" me?

And for my Fifth and final question:

Im still looking for a guitar. I am willing to spend from $200-$400 on it, and, would prefer an Acoustic-Electric, best of both worlds, but, will take any suggestions that come my way. What would you peeps reccomend?


Thank you all, and, hopefully I will be able to claim the guitar player status, too. Im heavily into old-school synths, FM synthesis, and newer sample-based and analog modeling synths, but, lately Ive been getting into more vintage/analog instruments. I have a Rhodes Mark II coming my way from eBay, great deal on it. Looking to buy a Clavinet and maybe some sort of good B-3 emulator, as well.

I'm a lefty too, but I learned to play the guitar right-handed when I was in high school, because then you can just about pick up any guitar laying around, take it out of some crappy guitarist's hands, etc. I'd also start out with an acoustic if I were you, because like somebody else said, the strings are fatter, and also usually there's more space between the strings and the fretboard, so it's more difficult to push down the strings completely. Then when you play an electric or more user-friendly acoustic, it's much easier to play. Bigger strings always means better sound, too. The ear is the boss, though. My philosophy has always been, if you can't hear it in your head, you can't play it correctly. Trust that ear!

[SweetSativa]

My husband is left-handed but learned to play right-handed (on someone else's guitar in highschool ... someone who didn't end up persuing it.


Have the salesperson (so often they can play... most of the time) play it, bend the strings and stuff and then play a chord again to see if it will stay in tune. I would NOT choose something with the strings set way up over the frets (and if they are, ask if they can be lowered) because you'll just get frustrated (my opinion anyway)... and doesn't that cause it to not stay in tune? I think sometimes they are initially set up that way but they can be lowered. ?? (never had the benefit of buying a spankin' new electric guitar )

[krangs_androidbody]

Originally Posted by SweetSativa

I tend to ever so slightly bend the strings because I'm used to accoustic.

You should try putting a set of heavier guage strings on your electric. If you're using 10s maybe try 11s or 12s. That should stop the bending (or at least help).

Snapshot... it is your opinion/observation that lessons don't help but perhaps the people you've been observing aren't dedicated enough. Many people will attest that they learned a great deal from lessons. To name names: When entering a new town the first thing John 5 (an under the radar guitar virtuoso) does is look for the best guitar teacher he can find to take lessons. Every guitarist/musician that is halfway serious can teach you something you don't know. Personally, I haven't taken guitar lessons, but I have taken private lessons for both percussion/drums and bass guitar. The bass guitar lessons were a tremendous help in my understanding of music and certainly have affected my technique on guitar.

I've been playing guitar for about 6 or 8 years now but just started getting "good" in the past few. The more I play the more hurdles I jump.

To those interested in learning without pay: there are a great amount of free resources available on the net.

Two forums:
-<a href = "http://jazzguitar.proboards 4.com">Jazz Guitar Forum</a><br />-<a href = "http://guitar.zentao.com/forum/">Jam Session</a>

and if you can connect to p2p software (specifically one that connects to emule, edonkey or whatever it's called (like Shareaza)) there are an abundent amount of guitar books (both theory/technique and songbooks). As well as instructional videos (the Hot Licks ones are really great, I've got a few of Joe Pass, Brian Setzer and some lesser knowns all giving 60 minute clinics).

Another great resource are the play-a-longs Jamey Aebersold publishes (jazzbooks.com). Which again, can be found on p2p networks. Many books are under $20 so if you find a good one it'd probably be best to make the investment (as sitting in front of the computer or printing the pages doesn't always render the best results)

Anyway, I play guitar and I enjoy it quite a bit. Probably my favorite thing to do. Was the hidden agenda of this thread ever revealed?

[krangs_androidbody]

Originally Posted by L.V.Dubb

In your other post you metioned "bending" strings? Im not totally sure what that means? Like, how easily there pressed onto the fretboard?

Ever listen to blues music? Sure you do, that's where it's found most often. It's when you take a fretted note you're holding and pull or push it up or down which shortens the string and raises the pitch. I think Neil Young said that if Hendrix played an off note he could bend it til it was right.

[SweetSativa]

Originally Posted by krangs_androidbody

You should try putting a set of heavier guage strings on your electric. If you're using 10s maybe try 11s or 12s. That should stop the bending (or at least help).

THANK YOU!!! Next time I'm at the music store I will pick up some heavier strings and give it a try. This board is really helping me to pick up inspiration for the guitar again (mother and wife thing tends to take over the entire being at times..... oooooo.... feels good to pick it back up )

Dub~
The bending of the strings.... you can hear intentional bending when you listen to guitar solos... it's when you actually bend a string (1/2 note or whatever is called for) to bend into another note... sounds beautiful where it's suppose to be. The accidental thing I'm talking about is just putting pressure at a bit of an angle? so as to make the thing sound out of whack... hitting unintentional notes. I don't know if that's clear or not.... li'l help? Excessive bending of strings makes most guitars come out of tune (after solos many times) but they should be able to take a bit of bending (or be played a while) and still be in tune. You don't want to have to stop playing after every song (or a short amount of time) and retune.

[krangs_androidbody]

Glad to help.

Dub, it'll make sense when you have a guitar in your hands. It's just bending a note to a higher note. It's an oft overused technique and very common. It's pretty easy to run away with it but it's a great effect when used tastefully and or sparingly. I try not to bend notes in practice but when I play with a band it seems to pop up in the first bar or two of my solo.

I hope the heavier strings do the trick for you sativa. A lot of jazzers use flatwound strings and 12-13 guage strings. They're more expensive and I haven't tried them myself, but some claim them superior. There's so many choices with guitars, it's a bit too populated but oh well.

[ZimZum]

as for the lefty learning righty thing, here's what you do: go into the guitar store and pick up the guitar, if you pick it up righty, you should probably learn righty, if you pick it up lefty, you should probably learn lefty. though, if you want to just learn righty so you have a larger selection of guitars and can pick up most anyone's guitar, then go for it. being a lefty guitar player myself(i'm actually right handed, i was forced to learn lefty cause of a serious injury to my left arm where i lost full mobility.) i know how much of a bitch it is getting lefty instruments.

as far as being taught lefty by a righty teacher, i actually found it to be easier. when you sit down facing your teacher, your guitars will be mirror images of each other.

and as far as picking out you first guitar, don't get a total piece of shit, but don't concern yourself with getting something really good either. your fingers are more important in how good it sounds than the guitar itself. if you're thinking about an acoustic, i'd reccomend a washburn. they make some very quality acoustics for a very good price.

[snapshot]

for real about the lessons, krang.. I mean guitar isn't that hard to learn. I can teach someone an entire green day album their first day if they really wanted me to. I guess people just don't want to learn as much as others.

[Mescalito]

Hey.. ive uploaded a recording of some double tapping.. what do you think?

Its in the link below and under music..

M

[ZimZum]

Originally Posted by SANcHEZ

Hey.. ive uploaded a recording of some double tapping.. what do you think?

Its in the link below and under music..

M

your technique is pretty solid, but you're ryhthm gets a little sloppy at some points.

[Mescalito]

Thanks man!

Ima gonna upload some more soon. I only have a 20mb account though and for somereason anything that is around 4mb will just never upload!

M

[UltraFace]

Originally Posted by SANcHEZ

Thanks man!

Ima gonna upload some more soon. I only have a 20mb account though and for somereason anything that is around 4mb will just never upload!

M

Are you recording that direct to your soundcard? Sounds like you need a DI box.

[Mescalito]

^Yeah. Well im using a program which records what you hear. What is a DI box?

M

[snapshot]

Yeah, what's a DI box. I'm planning on recording on someone's Mac pretty soon and would probably need what you're talking about.

[UltraFace]

Converts the guitar signal from unbalanced Hi-Z to balanced XLR, making for a clearer, better sound. Some mixers have a dedicated guitar input which does the same thing.

The best way would be guitar->DI Box->mic preamp->mixer->soundcard/audio interface

But if your like me and cant afford a mix preamp, it sounds fine without one.

[cndn_gtr_guy]

I would recommend the Sansamp GT2....

[JimonyCrickett]

Been playing for 5 years. Mainly play stuff like Machinehead, Tool, Rage, Mastodon and loads of death metal.

I play a Gibson SG Standard (swapped the stock pickups for an EMG 81 85 set). Pedalwise I've got a Vox wah, Digitech Whammy, EHX Chorus, Boss GE-7 EQ, Proco Rat and an ErnieBall volume pedal. This runs into a Peavey 5150 with a Marshall 1960A cab.

[Waves]

18 yrs of age, im a strapping young lad.

i have been a guitar addict for about 5 years. I dont know shit about theory, i can read music semi-well. I mostly improvise, but i know most popular songs by most popular artists by ear.

I play about 2-4 hours a day total. Mostly while on the pc, or just sitting around the house. I find that my progress comes in waves. Il all of a sudden pick up the guitar and feel like I have a new super-power, which usually translates into faster, smoother playing with less "dumb notes".