Some suggestions for a beginner?

[taao]

Hey guys.

 

First off, i'd like to say that i've trolled these forums a bit to get the feel of them, and you guys seem to have a pretty decent sense of community and a real willingness to answer questions that might be considered stupid by elitists. That's pretty cool, so i don't feel too bad about asking some stupid questions.

 

I've been playing drums for about 8 years, but apartment living doesn't accomodate that so much anymore, and I thought i'd move out of hte realm of hte rhythm section for awhile and try my hands at guitar.

 

Here's the problem(s): I know next to nothing about guitars or amps. I know little to nothing about notation. So, my questions follow as such.

 

1) What is a good beginners guitar that would be ok to eventually gig on, but is not ridiculously overpriced? I'm not so concerned about amps right now because i'll just grab a POS practice amp to learn on.

 

2) Imagine the first time you picked up a guitar wiht the intent of learning how to play, but having no fundamental knowledge about the instrument. This is me, so what are some good fundamentals exercises i can start with?

[picker]

Look at used intsruments first. You can get a lot more bang for your buck that way. A good used mex Strat ought to go for around $200-$250, and that is about as versatile a guitar as you could find for your purposes. DO NOT get one with a locking vibrato bar & nut setup at first; they are complicated gadgets if you break a string.

As far as learning goes, do your self a favor and get a teacher. You end up not having to reinvent the wheel that way, and with directed teaching, at least at first, you can get your feet under you better. Then you can branch out for there.

IF a teacher is too expensive at this time, get two books; one on scales and modes, and a level one method book. BOth will seem dull at first, but keep at them, they will be very valuable to you later on. Practice the things in them for about 15 minutes a day for the first couple of weeks, till you build up some calluses on your fingertips and get your finger, hand, and forearm muscles built up a bit, After you have that together. Practice at least an hour a day.

 

That ought to get you going. Let us know how your are doing. IF you run nto any problems, someone here might be able to offer some advice. Good luck.

[A String]

Picker offers some great advice in his post. If you are looking to learn how to "hum and strum" you can always pick up a book with songs by your favorite band. Find one with tablature and little pics of the chords. This is one of the quickest (And most fun) ways to learn guitar. I can't stress enough though that if you want to be a "guitar player" some day, theory is something you'll have to learn eventually and the longer you put it off, the more you'll regret it!

[Guitarzan]

get a good chord book, i assume you have never played at all.

here is a good site for chord fingerings.

 

http://www.chordbook.com/cb100/vguitar/guitar_chords.htm

[Dave da Dude]

First of all, WELCOME to the Forum

 

Next, yeah, what they all said is good.

 

IMHO,a "Fat" Strat would be ideal (electric) guitar; and used is a good value. As for learning; what 'picker' said is right, BUT, as he pointed out, it may (will) be boring. ALSO get a book (or on-line) easy chord fingerings so you can "hum 'n strum" as 'A String' suggested. Power chords would be easy R 'n R! I still haven't learned them, I use a full barre chord, which makes it much more difficult (I've got my eye on a cheap "pocket" book w/ power chords ).

 

I'm originally an acoustic (Folk / Folk-Rock) player. Heavier gage strings (for an electric "10's" or "11's" will build up your finger calluses and (finger muscle) strength better. "9's" would make it easier in the beginning.

 

MOST important, play some stuff that you enjoy, or you'll (probably) never stick with it.

 

Dave

[NMcGuitar]

Hey, ta'ao

Welcome to the forum!

 

Some good advice here already. I'll just add that whatever guitar you get, make sure it's a decent one. If you have a friend who knows guitars, have him/her look it over for you before you purchase. Very few things will suck away all of your enthusiasm faster than trying to learn on a crappy instrument. There are cheap guitars out there that even advanced players will struggle with, and will never quite make sound good - and these folks know what they're doing already. For a beginner they'll make you not want to play.

 

I'm not saying you need to spend lots of $$. There are plenty of fairly inexpensive guitars that are great (like my Artcore in my avatar). Just try to keep in mind that spending a little more now to get a decent instrument will pay you back big time in the long run.

 

Good luck!

[Bbach1]

Welcome to the forum Ta'ao. It's good that you are asking for advice. Probably what will actually happen, depending on the depth of your upcoming addition to guitars, you will work with your beginners equipment for a short while and then go on an equipment binge. This binge will re-assert itself every now and then. There will be no stopping it. Maybe it's better to stay with the drums.

[Big Red 67]

Theory, And welcome! I took an A.A. in theory at local comunity college. I struggled for years not being as good as I wanted to be. It took a few years for the info to really settle in. I recently took up guitar after playing bass for years. I have been playing guitar for less than a year. In that time I have joined a band, toured, and been nominated for a local music award. http://www.newsreview.com/issues/officialballot/officialballot.asp

Please vote for me! We are Mr. P Chill and the Trunk of Funk.

http://www.frinkism.com/view_collection.asp?collection_id=7203

There are mp3 at the secound site if you like to listen before you vote.

[Big Red 67]

One of the best things about theory is that you don't need the books as much once you have learned theory. Theory is best taken with piano, and should be applied to any insturment you can get your hands on. Even the spoons, and pots and pans, this won't make you poplar with your neighbors, but some of the best most majic sessions happened in the kitchen on pots pans and 5 gallon water jugs.

[Dennyf]

"Suggestions for a beginner," huh?

 

Have you learned NOTHING from playing the drums?

 

Harmonica, man, HARMONICA! Leave the gear-humpin' to the schmuckos.

[SuperFreak]

1) G'day & Welcome!

2) Sorry, but as a guitar player, you will still be part of the rhythm section!

Hey...it's not all bad

3) Chords chords chords...learn 'em, live 'em, love 'em.

4) Bring your drumming to the axe! It'll make for some interesting rhythmic concepts!

5) Don't smoke, relax more often & be nice to your mother.

[Dak Lander]

Welcome to the forums. That being said, QUIT while you're ahead & play harmonic as Dennyf suggested.

 

Other than that I can give no advice that's not already been given with the one thing I probably missed. Don't buy it unless you've played it and it speaks to you.

[tiger85]

Yeah take a friend who knows about guitars with you if you buy used so he/she can check it out for neck fractures or excessive buzzing or whatever. Now, if you decide to buy NEW, try to get a feel for what you want before you go to the store, maybe by looking online at Musician's Friend or American Musical Supply or samash.com. Above all avoid the salesmen who want to sell you what they want to promote instead of what you really want! Make sense? And don't be afraid to tell them that Sam Ash or MF has it for less money either. They'll usually match the price to make the sale! Good luck, and keep us posted!