FabSwingers.com forum: Learning guitar

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

What's the best way people have learned the guitar?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I tried using yousician was actually pretty decent

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By *radleywigginsMan
over a year ago

northwest

I’m assuming for this response you’re a beginner, but that you have a basic understanding of how to form basic chord shapes.

Search Georgiarose on YouTube.

Not what it sounds, it’s some old Aussie boy that takes you step by step through classic Britpop and the 60s/70s classics that inspired them. All easy strum along on open strings stuff in a completely laid back fashion. Making it fun and taking it slowly are the ways to make things sustainable and and as relatively painless as possible. Lessons for life eh?

I’m not a musician, though I can make a guitar make a noise and I found this guy really helpful because he talks through the rhythm of the strumming beat by beat. I think this (once your fingers have toughened up) is the most difficult part of playing. This will get you to the point where you can play something recognisable the quickest.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"What's the best way people have learned the guitar?"

Just learn the basic chords, then Barre chords which are the same shapes just with a finger pushing down on the fretboard to act as the 'open' strings.

In between that learn to play songs and riffs you like BADLY. Keep trying then they won't sound so bad.

That easy!

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By *hePerkyPumpkinTV/TS
over a year ago

Bristol

Find a song you like and would like to be able to play and then learn to play it.

Pick one that is achievable.

When I first started I learned to play the intro to Sweet Child Of Mine (I didn't bother with the whole song)

I picked this riff though because it's very easy to hear when you're getting it right and wrong, and I figured it'd be good for getting my fingers moving.

I had it down within a few days.

From there I just kept learning bits and pieces of songs I liked.

Been playing about 15 years now and I consider myself not too bad at it.

Good luck my friend, stick with it.

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By *ust RachelTV/TS
over a year ago

Horsham

My niece taught herself by using youtube videos.

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By *gent CoulsonMan
over a year ago

Secret hideaway in the pennines

It's 26 year since I picked up a guitar, have just started again and I am as rusty as fuck, so gone back to basics.

Simply guitar is not a bad app to use, I skipped the really basic first section because I remember a few basic chords.

What i will say is practice your cord transitions, easiest one is g,c and d, they form the basis for a lot of songs.

Use tab to learn, easier than learning dots

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By *partharmonyCouple
over a year ago

Ruislip

I am an experienced musician with a music degree. I strongly recommend finding a teacher. IMHO there is no substitute for direct interaction with somebody who knows what they are doing. Luke

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By *ayHaychMan
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

I started then stopped due to a busy life but really need to get back on it. There is a youtuber called JustinGuitar who has a whole beginner course for free which was going really well. I think I’ll find a teacher too though if I start back up. I want to be able to play relaxing string when the wind is howling and rain is pelting against the windows like it is tonight.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Its an old cliche but the BEST way to learn guitar is to practice. There is no other way. It takes time to learn.

However, as others have said new players really are spoilt for choice as there are a plethora of books and Youtube videos out there for the absolute beginner.

My heartfelt advice from a 50 year old who started playing when he was 8 is to simply have a go. Try a few of the vids aimed specifically at beginners. It helps of course if you choose a song or piece you like and more importantly know.

If you get the "playing bug" as it were (I find around 5% to 10% do and the rest just give up... which is fine) then seek out lessons from a professional teacher. The other - dare I say "essential" step - is to play with as many other guitarists (and.or musicians) as you can - especially if they are of an advanced standard. You will learn lots. Put an ad out or reply to an ad. Or seek out "open mic nights" at local venues and/pubs. Great way to make new musical friends and you will learn stuff from them.

Hope that helps!

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

Play with other musicians , the fastest way to learn is in the deep end playing songs with others. Most of what I learned was through gigging.

When learning stuff , sing dint just play . You’ll enjoy learning more, develop confidence and develop your personal style

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Fender do a really good online course.

Andyguitar on YouTube is really good for a beginner who’s never played beforehand.

Yousician is fun and get you enjoying it. (A but like guitar hero though)

But practice, and practice makes you better. I do not practice enough

What I found is when you hit the wall, get a band together, and jam with others regularly. You really do start to see where you are and it pushes you forward again.

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

"Fender do a really good online course.

Andyguitar on YouTube is really good for a beginner who’s never played beforehand.

Yousician is fun and get you enjoying it. (A but like guitar hero though)

But practice, and practice makes you better. I do not practice enough

What I found is when you hit the wall, get a band together, and jam with others regularly. You really do start to see where you are and it pushes you forward again. "

You should start a fab band Woody (after the social !) FAB4 - Up Your Bum

Playing with others definitely pushes you in ways solo playing doesn’t. Timing for one , your chord changes just magically correct themselves after a few scowls from others. Rather than correcting them first then playing the chord , you shift to playing it on time and the fingers fix themselves after a while. Listening skills improve too

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Learn your basic chord shapes (open, barre and triads) then learn the major and minor pentatonic scales and then find people to jam with or at least play along with some backing tracks from YouTube.

I also think it's a good idea to learn how to carry out basic maintenance on your instrument, like a full setup. A well playing and properly intonated guitar is far more inspiring to play than one that has a high action and doesn't stay in tune.

MrWho.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Fender do a really good online course.

Andyguitar on YouTube is really good for a beginner who’s never played beforehand.

Yousician is fun and get you enjoying it. (A but like guitar hero though)

But practice, and practice makes you better. I do not practice enough

What I found is when you hit the wall, get a band together, and jam with others regularly. You really do start to see where you are and it pushes you forward again. "

I made learning the guitar my lockdown project. I thought Andy Guitar was pretty good too. And Justin (as someone else mentioned). It wasn’t long before I had quite a lot of songs I could play badly but good enough that if they came on the radio the kids would say “dad they’re playing your song”.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Loads of great books and tutorials. But learn scales; not only will thos help when you progress but they are great finger exerises

Have some lessons; there will come a point where lessons will help you move to the next level.

But make sure you enjoy playing. There loads of sites where you can find simple versions of songs that you can use to play along with

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

An "actual" guitar teacher is the best option. They can tailor their lesson to your learning style, and assess/correct what you're actually doing in real time.

Online service can be ok, but don't give you the same level of feedback, and can't physically move your fingers into the correct positions (which is sometimes needed).

Watching online tutorials is a great supplement to proper lessons, and a great way of improving once you've got the fundamentals.

Cal

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By *parrow77Man
over a year ago

cheshire

There is lots of apps and websites like fenders play and others to use or if prefer someone to instruct face to face get a teacher.

I was lucky cos already played keyboards and knew all stuff for knowledge with grades and qualifications in music. So when decided wanted go guitar got the complete beginner guitar book for tips and then when got basics of chords and placements then started doing music by artists loved like Radiohead blur oasis cos knew songs inside out so made easier to learn as knew what sounded like before.

Either ways you start enjoy practice and have lots fun with it always gives me best smile and joy when I play and sing.

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By *owbadisbadMan
over a year ago

Sleaford / Grantham

Start with songs you know as you will know how they are supposed to sound, and get your guitar set up by a luthier or pro shop, it'll make it so much easier to play. There are millions of YouTube tutorials !

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By *inky RockersCouple
over a year ago

Castleford

Songsterr is a great app / website for getting tabs for learning songs.

Start with something you really like, and you'll be more inclined to stick with it.

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By *antricSeeker60Man
over a year ago

Durham

Learn how to tune it first and play around with a few different tunes you like from YouTube. Maybe have a couple of lessons with a real person and get the basics of music theory under your belt but overall have fun.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd tried a few times picking up my dads guitar and trying to learn chords with a book. Wan't happening.

Then a friend of mine taught me how to play a tune using just 3 barre chords - almost 30 years ago. nce I could play a tune, I was hooked.

With the advent of the internet and so many videos out there, some very good ones, learning has, in my view, become much more accessible

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

"I'd tried a few times picking up my dads guitar and trying to learn chords with a book. Wan't happening.

Then a friend of mine taught me how to play a tune using just 3 barre chords - almost 30 years ago. nce I could play a tune, I was hooked.

With the advent of the internet and so many videos out there, some very good ones, learning has, in my view, become much more accessible"

I am self taught on several instruments, and learned way before the internet was a thing. After years of progression, it has become apparent that face-to-face lessons would have made the process loads quicker. Without that two way interaction, there are lots of little things that I missed, small but fundamental things that I have discovered later in life that have made my playing better... but I would have been taught right at the beginning with proper lessons.

Even though I can play and didn't have lessons, I would have been better much quicker if I had taken lessons.

Cal

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By *odgerMooreMan
over a year ago

Up Your Frock!

Theres no shortcut to practice but settling goals helps focus as its easy to become disheartened - take small wins and don’t expect to be Eddy Van Halen in 3 months.

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By *idewillyMan
over a year ago

southampton

Some of the greatest and best guitarist never learnt to read music tabs etc they picked out the notes from their souls and that's one of the reasons they had their Own sound voice

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By *ixie-and-himCouple
over a year ago

st helens

played pro for over 10 years

playing since i was 8

scales-practice and get past the part where you will get stuck in a rut

you will gain an understanding of chord structures

and dont forget to train both hands-not just the chord hands

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By *ansexualPandaMan
over a year ago

cumallover

Regardless of how you learn the key is practice, practice and more practice!

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

"Regardless of how you learn the key is practice, practice and more practice!"

This is very true... and for every skill

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By *agneto.Man
over a year ago

Bham

Started with justin guitar learning cowboy chords. Few songs.

Then I moved to yousician. Defo gets your fingers moving.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Recently started myself, I'm shocking but have picked up a few chords. I've been using Yousician which is pretty useful, it has many great lessons and a tuner which is pretty invaluable

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By *evon30Man
over a year ago

torquay

Justinguitar and andy guitar as mentioned are great , marty schwarz also.

I have found a fun learning tool is rocksmith as well

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would love to learn it but I heard quitars need to be tuned often and I can't even tell if a guitar is in tune or not

I recently saw someone playing Robert Miles children on quitar.. WOW!

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By *ryan...Man
over a year ago

1950's Original

"I would love to learn it but I heard quitars need to be tuned often and I can't even tell if a guitar is in tune or not

I recently saw someone playing Robert Miles children on quitar.. WOW!

You can buy cheapo battery operated guitar tuners..which tells you when each string is to the correct tension...

I agree with some above,you can't beat some basic lessons..perhaps from a friend who plays ,most guitarists are only too willing to help show you...

I found the trick was to do everything very slowly....very very slowly..if it takes ages to get fingers in right place for a chord ..so what ..it then starts becoming natural to place your fingers in correct positions..

notice guitarists on TV don't need to look at strings/ fingers..they had to learn by practice .

Oh and Eric Clapton said

" You Never stop learning the guitar"

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By *idewillyMan
over a year ago

southampton

Some of the best known guitarist in the world cant read music like the late bb king its howyou can make a guitar sound with feeling a guitaris like a beautiful lady has curves contours you caress playfeelthe back of the neck and if you do it right its electric and you will get feedback

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Some of the best known guitarist in the world cant read music like the late bb king its howyou can make a guitar sound with feeling a guitaris like a beautiful lady has curves contours you caress playfeelthe back of the neck and if you do it right its electric and you will get feedback

BB King couldn't even play chords!

MrWho.

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By *urvelover87Man
over a year ago

London

Depends what and how you want to learn. For basic chords I have found that using tabs and practicing along a song that you like and know well works (at least for me). There are hundreds of tabs available on the internet from a plethora of websites, or if you feel like spending some money you can get Guitarpro and play tabs from it. If you want to learn how to read music, harmony and all the finer concepts of music theory I would suggest taking lessons from an actual musician along with some self-study (youtube is a goldmine of easy to in-depth lessons, song breakdowns and general music theory). And practice until your fingers bleed (literally).

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

If you can pick it and practice daily even for 10-15 mins you will progress best because it’s like muscle memory.

I use the Guitar Tuna app it’s free and dead easy.

Every now and then I push myself and have a one off masterclass / lesson. Last one was in Seville with a renowned flamenco player, for 2 hours I learned Malagueñas from a pro, it was like a years worth of YouTube learning

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By *idewillyMan
over a year ago

southampton

Doesnt matter if bb king could play chords or not you dont need to be a shredder guitar licking genius to have your own sound you need feeling a well set up guitar i make them for the rock stars out there

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