Guitar Players?

[RCWells]

I agree, get a decent guitar to begin with, you won't regret it. Playability will go a long way toward you enjoying the learning experience. My first acoustic's action was way to high and the neck was as thick as a baseball bat. Hard to play and made it more difficult to learn on. So spend a bit and get something with a low action and thin/fast neck.

[trent]

I agree, get a decent guitar to begin with, you won't regret it. Playability will go a long way toward you enjoying the learning experience. My first acoustic's action was way to high and the neck was as thick as a baseball bat. Hard to play and made it more difficult to learn on. So spend a bit and get something with a low action and thin/fast neck.

:up:

[GaryE30]

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into it. I've been browsing musiciansfriend and they seem to have some really nice deals.

[benDASHDASH]

question: ive been playiing since the beginning of the year. right now im in to really strummy songs. i can sing them. i can play them. but i cannot for the life of me sing and play at the same time, even when im playing along with a recording of the song. any ideas?

also, ill find chords to songs.. but i can never get the strum pattern right. how can i practice strum patterns?

[AdamF 88iS]

I've been playing for about 8 years now. I don't play so much anymore though, it's just kind of in the back of my mind right now. I still hold on to all my stuff though and crack it out once in a while.

[RCWells]

question: ive been playiing since the beginning of the year. right now im in to really strummy songs. i can sing them. i can play them. but i cannot for the life of me sing and play at the same time, even when im playing along with a recording of the song. any ideas?

also, ill find chords to songs.. but i can never get the strum pattern right. how can i practice strum patterns?

I used to carry a pick with me at all times and when I would be sitting idle at any time during the day, I would "strum" the side of my leg. The seam of my jeans would serve as some resistance simulating how the strings might feel and I would practice my strumming that way. It seemed to help me a lot. Strum your leg with the song just listening to establish the strum pattern. Up-up-down-down-up-down-up-down-up-down, whatever. Listen carefully to how the song is picked/played and emulate what you hear.

Rhythm is very very key in the beginning. You need to establish your rhythm early on or your lack of it will make it very difficult for you and anyone else to play together. Tapping your feet as you strum, counting aloud, metronome, etc. will also help alot. Some are just born with it, others have to work at it and some just have to work to find out they were born with it.

Playing and singing at the same time takes practice, practice, practice. You have to begin to separate your concious mind from the action of your playing while you sing. This concept is very akin to how you have to separate your concious mind's awareness of what your left and right hands are doing separately, like when you were learning to change chords in the beginning. If you stay at it, it will come.

Start with easy rhythm songs, basic 3chord stuff, like G-D-C (or G-D-Aminor-C for some) "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" for example. Really simple strumming pattern, very familiar tune/lyrics, and you will find it easier to learn to do both at the same time. Actually, that may NOT be familiar to you (I forget my age sometimes,lol). Whatever, just find something that is not really complicated and establish the baseline rhythm. Then begin to add in the lyrics, maybe even just singing them in your head in the beginning, then aloud when you feel comfortable. Just remember, there is no substitute for practice.

I hope this all makes sense. It's 2:58am here, and I've been working on a Careplan for clinical which I have in about 4hrs. I am in zombie state so I am not sure if what I typed is even coherent.

[benDASHDASH]

yes, that makes sense. good tips. that was quite a lengthy post - thanks dude.

[Perimeter85]

my only advice is go for a full body acoustic. i've had acoustic/electric with a more shallow body and it's just not the same. i think especially to start you'll enjoy the fuller sound. but it could just be my preference. new strings almost always suck at first anyways until you break them in but depending on the quality guitar (i.e. cheapest yamaha acoustic) you should probably upgrade them. I like elixir the best. 9 or 10 gauge.

[E30trash]

Start with an acoustic, and move whatever way you want to from there: lessons, electric, whatever.

I started playing about 5 years ago, my dad is very accomplished and he is the reasoning for this mad obsession. I took one lesson and didnt like it, however whenever my dad sat down and taught me i loved it.

I still would no say i am very accomplished but i know a thing or two about quality of guitars and skill levels.

My dad and i have been building guitars for around three years now with much success, here is a quick pic of one of my design made with purple heart wood, lamanated neck through with ebony inserts and fingerbord:





We havent built any acoustics yet, but we recently ordered a "kit" just so we can begin to experiment more with them.

I dont know if this helps at all but good luck and i know you will have fun with it.

[bwanac]

I want that guitar. So pretty.

[E30trash]

I want that guitar. So pretty.

thank you i love it too :D

[CleanAzzE30z]

I own one guitar and its the one I was learning on. Gibson "Epiphone" Les Paul all black.

Mariano

[E30trash]

I own one guitar and its the one I was learning on. Gibson "Epiphone" Les Paul all black.

Mariano

good deal, those guitars i find outstanding for the price. Especially when you look close at the quality of gibsons made in the US!!! :down:

[trent]

nice looking, but ahhhhhhhh! I hate EMG's! Talk about mud sound!

But, to each his own, I am a simple kinda guy, I like sound straight out of the pickup into the amp. No pedals, no crap. I feel like EMGs change sound too much.

[trent]

good deal, those guitars i find outstanding for the price. Especially when you look close at the quality of gibsons made in the US!!! :down:

I will disagree. I have two US Gibsons, one a Paul Studio from the 70s, and one a rare V from the early 80s. Both have a fantastic build quality in comparison to some other "US" guitars I have played.