Attention all guitarists

[Wattie]

Fellas, big regret of mine is not learning to play an instrument. fortunately for the world this has saved you all from my voice.
I Particular love the guitar and enviously look at music vids - that could be me. I’d love my daughter to learn.....and me and the Mrs will start too.
A family thing.
Can any of you recommend a dvd/online course we could sign up to - or is personal tuition essential?
thoughts appreciated.

 

[allandwf]

No point asking me I play drums! Seriously though, for now I would learn the basics on line, less interaction with people at this moment. Most guitarists I know, have played with, ( in a musical sense before you lot start!) have all had some sort of personal tutor. It's good you are all starting from the same base line, it will make it more enjoyable I would think. Best wishes with it, and keep us posted of progress. In

 

[Wanderer]

I'd just self-learn, it's what I did as did my son. Was a lot hrder in the old days, trying to copy from a record, slowing down the fast bits and adjusting the pitch a fifth or so or whatever it was.

Now you have youtube how to plays and sites full of tabs (which are little pics of where to put your fingers on the fret board because nortoriously no guitarist can actually read music! Hardest part is getting the skin on your fingers hard, hurts like **** at first!

 

[Andyk]

Also get yourself a chord book....Some really goods one that have every chord in there and exactly how to play them....As Wanderer has said don't give up when the tips of your fingers hurt as they will until hardened.

 

[Wanderer]

Let's not forget no matter how experienced you are there's the ever-present fear on changing a string it's going snap and take your eye out.....

 

[daverichardson]

I am self taught too and I passed tips on to my sons.
The key is perseverance. I spent all day in my youth changing from C to G (some distance) but managed it
Bflat and F can be tricky too
The reward is - immeasurable. Nothing else matters whilst you are practicing/playing you become free for an hour or so.
My advice is do it and stick at it..

No wish to hijack thread but 2 guitars have come my way today from a friends estate. His survivors wish to sell them. I am in the process of photographing and writing a few words of description If anyone is interested.
They are in Excellent condition. More or less as new and pristine.
One is a 50th anniversary Fender Strat the other is an Epiphone
No idea of price yet but I will let you know before I advertise generally if there is interest

 

[Wanderer]

I am self taught too and I passed tips on to my sons.
The key is perseverance. I spent all day in my youth changing from C to G (some distance) but managed it
Bflat and F can be tricky too
The reward is - immeasurable. Nothing else matters whilst you are practicing/playing you become free for an hour or so.
My advice is do it and stick at it..

No wish to hijack thread but 2 guitars have come my way today from a friends estate. His survivors wish to sell them. I am in the process of photographing and writing a few words of description If anyone is interested.
They are in Excellent condition. More or less as new and pristine.
One is a 50th anniversary Fender Strat the other is an Epiphone
No idea of price yet but I will let you know before I advertise generally if there is interest

B Minor is my beta noir, I can never change to it cleanly, always land on it funny and accidentally bend a string. Does my head in! I scarcely ever barre, massive hands and thumb the bottom E, especially as I don my axe hard-b@stard low and not pouffy under my armpits like Haircut 100.

How you carry your axe is very important, your don't want to look like a git.

Plenty of decent guitars around the £100 mark, cheaper seccy-hand, bought a really good Epiphone acoustic for €20 in Ireland, spot on it is.

Other end of scale is my Rickenbacker 1992 360/12, not much change from 3k but it's beautifully made and a real work of art. Neck is narrow af tho so hard for me to play with my freakazoid hands but I can never part with it.

 

[Swedish Paul]

B Minor is my beta noir, I can never change to it cleanly, always land on it funny and accidentally bend a string. Does my head in! I scarcely ever barre, massive hands and thumb the bottom E, especially as I don my axe hard-b@stard low and not pouffy under my armpits like Haircut 100.

How you carry your axe is very important, your don't want to look like a git.

Plenty of decent guitars around the £100 mark, cheaper seccy-hand, bought a really good Epiphone acoustic for €20 in Ireland, spot on it is.

Other end of scale is my Rickenbacker 1992 360/12, not much change from 3k but it's beautifully made and a real work of art. Neck is narrow af tho so hard for me to play with my freakazoid hands but I can never part with it.

I have a 360 six string. Or rather my son does now. Wonderful guitars, I’m looking out for a 4001. Had one, want one again.

 

[Lozzer]

I've tried, and tried and tried again with the guitar, I think the younger you are, the more chance you're going to have of even half mastering the thing, I played a few instruments in my youth, Brass (eyy by gum) Piano, but not guitar, and I can't grasp it for **** now I'm older

 

[zagatoes30]

Keep coming back to it, better than I was but it isn't coming natural. Just had a new guitar sent to me so that should be fun.

Both my daughters (11 & 12) picked up easily but then again they play anything and everything between them they both play violin, piano & guitar and then one plays flute, tin whistle (surprisingly good when you know what your doing) and the other trumpet and drums.

 

[Wattie]

Thanks gents for the advice and encouragement, some of which I don’t understand.
C to G, B minor etc.
Clearly we will need fingertips of steel- apparently.
Fortunately, I am blessed with youth( see photo) and this appears to favour the learning process from what you all say. My Mrs on the other hand.
Seems to be very much a “get on the Internet” and learn kind of thing which is fine.
I will scour “scumtree” today for Rickenbackers, 3 are required and will post progress of such and subsequent blisters.

 

[Andyk]

Give it a go Wattie, when it finally clicks it's such a good feeling but can take a while.

 

[Wanderer]

Thanks gents for the advice and encouragement, some of which I don’t understand.
C to G, B minor etc.
Clearly we will need fingertips of steel- apparently.
Fortunately, I am blessed with youth( see photo) and this appears to favour the learning process from what you all say. My Mrs on the other hand.
Seems to be very much a “get on the Internet” and learn kind of thing which is fine.
I will scour “scumtree” today for Rickenbackers, 3 are required and will post progress of such and subsequent blisters.

Ricks are't cheap or easy to play because the fretboard at the nut is so narrow. For learning I'd go for Epiphone acoustics, cheap, decent and easy to play.

 

[Wack61]

I hope it works out for you wattie , IMO one on one tuition will always be the best way of learning something new

I can’t play a triangle , this guy plays in a club in Wigan

it makes you wonder how some mediocre musicians become world famous millionaires and some truly brilliant ones play in back street clubs

https://www.facebook.com/273103823/posts/10100815448404392

 

[Sam McGoo]

I was in bands as a teen, drums at first, then guitar. Like most others here was self taught. A chord book to learn the shapes, and hours upon hours listening to my favourite records over and over to work out the songs by ear.
I was just a rhythm guitarist into my grunge /indie so got by fine.

Didn't really play much for 20 years after that, just if I was *****d and picked one back up at home.
Lockdown got me back into it, and I can't believe how much easier it is now with YouTube etc..
Type in a song, and someone will show you how to play it! It's brilliant. I've even dabbled in a couple of hendrix and direstraits 'solos' recently, somthing I couldn't have dreamed of before without a tab book and days of practice.

Unless you want to be seriously good and learn all the scales, techniques and styles etc.. I can't see the point in doing lessons unless your not at all musically minded.

There's not much that isn't on YouTube, and if you have a musical ear and some natural rhythm you'll be fine.

 

[Wanderer]

Recently read Stephen Morris' book, he's drummer in New Order and previously Joy Division, started on guitar in the 70's before picking up the sticks.

In said book he said he bought a guitar, and two books, Bert Weedon's 'Play Guitar In A Day' and '28 Appalachian Folks Songs' for the day after.

Weedon has a lot to answer for with that book, deluded thousands and generated a pile of guitars used a ornaments....

 

[Doctor Houx]

I took it up late in life after semi-retirement at 50. Helped I played French horn as a teenager and can read music.Hard work to learn and no easy short cuts.

I took lessons for about 2 years to learn how to move my fingers properly and hold the instrument as I have small hands. Weekly lessons also gave me the incentive to practice each week. I also finally got an instrument with the frets closer together so I could play easier.

I now regularly play in bands and brings me immense contentment and satisfaction. Having just typed this I’m now going off to play for an hour or so!

 

[Andyk]

I hope it works out for you wattie , IMO one on one tuition will always be the best way of learning something new

I can’t play a triangle , this guy plays in a club in Wigan

it makes you wonder how some mediocre musicians become world famous millionaires and some truly brilliant ones play in back street clubs

https://www.facebook.com/273103823/posts/10100815448404392

It's about being in the right place at the right time.....and problem with the industry it's also about are you marketable which is why there are a lot of great song writers that write for others. Unfortunately image sells.......Like you I have seen some amazing musicians/song writers in pubs that they get anywhere. Such a small % make it.....

 

[flexwing]

Getting a decent instrument is really important. A great guitar is the Yamaha Pacifica 112. Reasonable price and easy to play (£250). A great way to start. Acoustic guitars are more difficult to play but really rewarding. My son started off with a Fairh Neptune, a british acoustic that costs around £300.
I wouldn't pay too much for your first guitar as you really need to find out through experience which guitar suits you.
On line lessons work really well. Lock down has demonstrated how effective it can be. One to one lessons will prevent you from picking up bad habits and lay the best foundations for technique. Word of mouth is best. My sons lessons cost £20 per hour. Well worth it!

 

[Wanderer]

Wattie in a few weeks time.....