FabSwingers.com forum: Anyone else learning the guitar?

By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

So I bought myself a guitar awhile ago. I go through phases of where I try and pick it up every day, and mainly practice changing the chords, (I have played a few songs, as per the book I've bought, but I need to improve my chord changes), and where I completely forget about it,

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise?

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By *lem-H-FandangoMan
over a year ago

salisbury

Welcome to the last 30 years of my life.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

" Welcome to the last 30 years of my life. "

It's a sweet feeling when you nail the changes, and improve the speed you do it at, but it's not that often!

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"So I bought myself a guitar awhile ago. I go through phases of where I try and pick it up every day, and mainly practice changing the chords, (I have played a few songs, as per the book I've bought, but I need to improve my chord changes), and where I completely forget about it,

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise? "

Anyone else?!

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

Keep at it, very rewarding

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

I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really"

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

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By *lem-H-FandangoMan
over a year ago

salisbury

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time? "

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

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By *lem-H-FandangoMan
over a year ago

salisbury

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls."

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

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By *lem-H-FandangoMan
over a year ago

salisbury

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

Practice, practise, practice.

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By *arksMan
over a year ago

in the centre

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

It could help when trying to hit the high notes

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

It could help when trying to hit the high notes

Only if he squashes my balls

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

I have a guitar and a bass...learning them is a bit of an over exageration...I am bloody useless but I gind tabs easier than chords...another thing that just does not stay in my head

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

Some days feel like groundhog day!

But it will be worth it.

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

You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

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By *lem-H-FandangoMan
over a year ago

salisbury

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

Are you Bryan Adams?!

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"I have a guitar and a bass...learning them is a bit of an over exageration...I am bloody useless but I gind tabs easier than chords...another thing that just does not stay in my head

I used to prefer tabs to start with, but find it easier to play/find songs using chords.

As frustrating as it can and will be, it does slowly come together.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

4?! I'm just playing with the 3 chords at the moment.

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

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

4?! I'm just playing with the 3 chords at the moment."

Status Quo then

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

"I have a guitar and a bass...learning them is a bit of an over exageration...I am bloody useless but I gind tabs easier than chords...another thing that just does not stay in my head

I used to prefer tabs to start with, but find it easier to play/find songs using chords.

As frustrating as it can and will be, it does slowly come together."

Have you tried the guitar tabs app?

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By *lem-H-FandangoMan
over a year ago

salisbury

Rocksmith.

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By *arksMan
over a year ago

in the centre

I’ve owned several over the years but have never learned to play anything , I get frustrated that I can’t seem to get to grips with it even though I’m usually pretty good at picking things up , the guitar has always eluded me

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

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise? "

I've been playing for about 35 years on and off, but never had lessons or formally tried to learn, just picked up a guitar and tried to see what I could do with it.

I was never really very good and as I haven't played much for quite a few years, I've got worse.

It's great fun though.

Enjoy yourself!

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By *r C Miss CCouple
over a year ago

llanelli

I’ve a lovely collection of guitars.. there’s a few in my profile I’ve been playing 26 years

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

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

4?! I'm just playing with the 3 chords at the moment."

4 chords that made a million ya know

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

"I’ve a lovely collection of guitars.. there’s a few in my profile I’ve been playing 26 years"

That’s some collection

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

Practice, practise, practice. "

Let it be so.

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By *eliz NelsonMan
over a year ago

The Tantric Tea Shop

My guitar became a piece of occasional furniture for a couple of years, finally restrung it last week.....for first couple of days guitar had obviously been drinking but behaving now

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

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise? "

I've played for 30 years and love it. Just keep practicing. Pick a couple of songs that you like and play them over and over. Main thing is relax and don't concentrate too hard. I know it sounds wierd but it works. I'm in a band and play most weekends and still fuck up. You never stop learning. Good luck my friend keep at it.

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By *eliz NelsonMan
over a year ago

The Tantric Tea Shop

There will be a lot of monotony and frustration with practise then eureka moments

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

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

4?! I'm just playing with the 3 chords at the moment."

Are you using a pick or fingers.Put the pick down if your using one. Anymore than 4 chords and your showing off .

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

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise?

Another thing is learn how to properly tune the guitar or it will just sound shit and put you off.

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By *ringles0510Woman
over a year ago

Central Borders

Played the guitar in my teens and early twenties. Left it for a few decades and now decided to play again.

Looks like I'm having to start from scratch!!! Gutted and can't really be bothered to practice every day to be honest. More of a piano person anyway, but that's a bit hard to drag around when you want to play a bit of music over your mate's

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

Practice, practise, practice.

Let it be so.

Will there be audience participation?

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

Practice, practise, practice.

Let it be so.

Will there be audience participation?

My boundaries are out of whack of late, so yeah

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

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really

I very much enjoyed your playing/singing. It was very thoughtful. And good

Would it be improved if i sucked him off at the same time?

You two both have the ability to cheer me up.

Yes. I would have enjoyed that too.

He's a big guy. I've often thought about riding him like one of those electric bulls.

I’d struggle to play the guitar and sing at the same time if you did

Practice, practise, practice.

Let it be so.

Will there be audience participation?

My boundaries are out of whack of late, so yeah

Long may they remain out of whack

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By *eMontresMan
over a year ago

Halesowen

Been playing professionally/semi-pro for over 40 years. I have around a dozen guitars. I bought my first one with my paper round money for £12 - that was about 3 months savings in those days.

I'm not great as I'm a singer/blues harp player primarily, so I only ever learned enough to accompany my voice and harp playing.

To make any progress, you need to be committed and consistent. Better to do 3 x 5min micro sessions per day than to do an hour one day and then skip a few days.

Practice has to be to some purpose, not just re-hashing things you can already do.

Every has different pre-disposition, but if you consistently put in 30 mnins a day, every day, for 2 years or so, you should start to become competent on the basics at least.

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By *r C Miss CCouple
over a year ago

llanelli

"I’ve a lovely collection of guitars.. there’s a few in my profile I’ve been playing 26 years

That’s some collection

Thanks i have more lol.. i found 3 upstairs hiding in my spare bed room the other day... a 90 salmon pink charvel a jackson parts mutt i made and a cort

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By *wsw1londonMan
over a year ago

London

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise? "

I've been learning since I was 14. So that's 35 years. I have 3 guitars and have owned many over the years. But the problem is that I just cant find one that works!

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By *radleywigginsMan
over a year ago

northwest

Despite learning to play the piano to a decent standard as a kid, I really struggled with guitar. And I'm talking about shit busker strum along standard.

The problem I found more than anything else was that there were very few resources on rhythm/strum technique [stop giggling at the back], I spent a lot in books but never seemed to improve..

But now, YouTube. Pretty much every song has a 'today I'm going to show you how to play___' page.

As soon as you get to the point where you can reliably change between 4 or 5 (A, E, D, G, C) that's where I'd head.

For now forget about any song with a Barre F and play an Fmaj7 (xx3210) and it'll likely sound good enough for you to sing along to as you keep time.

I'm still really struggling but the other week I got to the point where people actually recognised stuff I was playing and tried to join in. Makes you feel like a fucking rockstar

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

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise?

I've been learning since I was 14. So that's 35 years. I have 3 guitars and have owned many over the years. But the problem is that I just cant find one that works!"

Which ones have you tried? Acoustic/electric?

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

"I’ve a lovely collection of guitars.. there’s a few in my profile I’ve been playing 26 years

That’s some collection

Thanks i have more lol.. i found 3 upstairs hiding in my spare bed room the other day... a 90 salmon pink charvel a jackson parts mutt i made and a cort

Some obscure and unique ones too

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

Got an acoustic at the weekend.... hoping next weekend to actually take it out of the bag lol

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

i used to practice guitar playing jazz scales up until 13-14 years old .... then one night i heard john peel play a record by steve vai ... i went out and ordered it. then when i played the record i found because of all those jazz scales my uncle made me practice so much i was able to just play along with the record after 3 or 4 listens .... it was my renaissance ... nowadays i especially enjoy playing music with ultra complex time signatures like math-rock, electroacoustic music, glitch and cicuit bending using vintage effects pedals etc.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"I have a guitar and a bass...learning them is a bit of an over exageration...I am bloody useless but I gind tabs easier than chords...another thing that just does not stay in my head

I used to prefer tabs to start with, but find it easier to play/find songs using chords.

As frustrating as it can and will be, it does slowly come together.

Have you tried the guitar tabs app?"

I did to start with. But have bought a book, and am following an online guide. Its all about chords.

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

"I have a guitar and a bass...learning them is a bit of an over exageration...I am bloody useless but I gind tabs easier than chords...another thing that just does not stay in my head

I used to prefer tabs to start with, but find it easier to play/find songs using chords.

As frustrating as it can and will be, it does slowly come together.

Have you tried the guitar tabs app?

I did to start with. But have bought a book, and am following an online guide. Its all about chords. "

... it's all about scales .... knowing them unlocks the knowledge of where to put your fingers for each scale's associated chords

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise?

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

"I have a guitar and a bass...learning them is a bit of an over exageration...I am bloody useless but I gind tabs easier than chords...another thing that just does not stay in my head

I used to prefer tabs to start with, but find it easier to play/find songs using chords.

As frustrating as it can and will be, it does slowly come together.

Have you tried the guitar tabs app?

I did to start with. But have bought a book, and am following an online guide. Its all about chords. "

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

I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!

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By *r C Miss CCouple
over a year ago

llanelli

[Removed by poster at 06/02/18 22:55:04]

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By *r C Miss CCouple
over a year ago

llanelli

"I’ve a lovely collection of guitars.. there’s a few in my profile I’ve been playing 26 years

That’s some collection

Thanks i have more lol.. i found 3 upstairs hiding in my spare bed room the other day... a 90 salmon pink charvel a jackson parts mutt i made and a cort

Some obscure and unique ones too

Not really their mostly metal guitars. Bc rich, jackson, ibanez, charvel, cort & dean. Plus ive made a couple myself from kits

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By *r C Miss CCouple
over a year ago

llanelli

Two good apps for beginners are songsterr and smartchord both on android and iso.. guitar pro 6 i think it is. Is also good on the pc

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By *oncupiscentTonyMan
over a year ago

Kent

Hold down the chord of C, pluck a fretted bass string with the thumb of the right hand

And pluck the third, second and first strings altogether with the first, second and third fingers of the right hand

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

"I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!"

Best guitars in my opinion. I own 2 American strats and a telecaster hence my user name. Just learn pentatonic blues scale. Nearly every solo ever played uses that scale.

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By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

"i used to practice guitar playing jazz scales up until 13-14 years old .... then one night i heard john peel play a record by steve vai ... i went out and ordered it. then when i played the record i found because of all those jazz scales my uncle made me practice so much i was able to just play along with the record after 3 or 4 listens .... it was my renaissance ... nowadays i especially enjoy playing music with ultra complex time signatures like math-rock, electroacoustic music, glitch and cicuit bending using vintage effects pedals etc."

John Peel played a Steve Vai record????

You sure mun - seems the kind of thing he’d have run a mile from (like me)

I used to teach guitar at the height of the Britpop era. Gawd only knows how many aspiring guitarists I taught to play flipping Wonderwall

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

John Peel played a Steve Vai record????

You sure mun - seems the kind of thing he’d have run a mile from (like me)

I used to teach guitar at the height of the Britpop era. Gawd only knows how many aspiring guitarists I taught to play flipping Wonderwall

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

"I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!

Best guitars in my opinion. I own 2 American strats and a telecaster hence my user name. Just learn pentatonic blues scale. Nearly every solo ever played uses that scale.

I thought your username looked like a name of a guitar! Anyway thanks for the tip

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

John Peel played a Steve Vai record????

You sure mun - seems the kind of thing he’d have run a mile from (like me)

I used to teach guitar at the height of the Britpop era. Gawd only knows how many aspiring guitarists I taught to play flipping Wonderwall

yep ... in 1984 peely thought vai's flex-able album was genius .... and he was right

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

4?! I'm just playing with the 3 chords at the moment.

Are you using a pick or fingers.Put the pick down if your using one. Anymore than 4 chords and your showing off .

Pick. Which 4 chords you talking about?

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!"

Can you teach me how to tune by ear.

I use an electric tuner, think I will be for a while.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Despite learning to play the piano to a decent standard as a kid, I really struggled with guitar. And I'm talking about shit busker strum along standard.

The problem I found more than anything else was that there were very few resources on rhythm/strum technique [stop giggling at the back], I spent a lot in books but never seemed to improve..

But now, YouTube. Pretty much every song has a 'today I'm going to show you how to play___' page.

As soon as you get to the point where you can reliably change between 4 or 5 (A, E, D, G, C) that's where I'd head.

For now forget about any song with a Barre F and play an Fmaj7 (xx3210) and it'll likely sound good enough for you to sing along to as you keep time.

I'm still really struggling but the other week I got to the point where people actually recognised stuff I was playing and tried to join in. Makes you feel like a fucking rockstar"

I've only got to A, E, D. I will stick with it. But it's a mare sometimes.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Two good apps for beginners are songsterr and smartchord both on android and iso.. guitar pro 6 i think it is. Is also good on the pc"

Cheers, will have a look at them.

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

Ive been going through phases of trying to learn the guitar for about 28 years.

I don't really bother with exercises as such, but YouTube can be a good source for tutorials. I found it helped to find songs I really wanted to play along with. The trick is to find stuff that isn't too complicated (Nirvana for instance), and maybe just start with the rhythm instead of Lead.

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

"I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!

Can you teach me how to tune by ear.

I use an electric tuner, think I will be for a while."

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier

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

"I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!

Can you teach me how to tune by ear.

I use an electric tuner, think I will be for a while."

I use an app on my phone called Guitar Tuna. You have to pay for the alternative tunings though, like open chord tunings, but I doubt you'll need those for a while.

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By *eliz NelsonMan
over a year ago

The Tantric Tea Shop

Really basic stuff but if strumming A, lift your finger off the G string and you have A7 and when strumming E, lift finger off D string and you have E7,you will get a little more variety but will risk becoming lazy and pick up bad habits, always a curse

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

"You only need 4 chords .Play till your fingers bleed.Thats what I did for the first few years.

4?! I'm just playing with the 3 chords at the moment.

4 chords that made a million ya know

Jesus, you don't get many Porcupine Tree fans on here!

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

"I own a beautiful Stratocaster. I can tune the guitar perfectly by ear but I can't actually play. I just struggle to learn scales and chords!

Can you teach me how to tune by ear.

I use an electric tuner, think I will be for a while.

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier"

It is if you've got perfect pitch to get the E in tune to begin with, otherwise it's just relative and not very much use.

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

Practice scales, they will help not only with getting faster on the neck but will also improve your overall playing and understanding of guitar

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By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

John Peel played a Steve Vai record????

You sure mun - seems the kind of thing he’d have run a mile from (like me)

I used to teach guitar at the height of the Britpop era. Gawd only knows how many aspiring guitarists I taught to play flipping Wonderwall

yep ... in 1984 peely thought vai's flex-able album was genius .... and he was right

That’s fascinating - genuinely! Learn something every day

Maybe I’ll have to check it out if it’s available.

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By *heIcebreakersCouple
over a year ago

Cramlington

"I’ve been playing for 35 years and I’m still learning - but don’t play enough to get better really"
This...

Always learning, always improving

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By *lik and PaulCouple
over a year ago

Flagrante

It's about 45 years of learning for me and it never stops...like others have said I never picked them up often enough to really master the guitar but I love playing so stick at it OP...it's worth it.

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By *heIcebreakersCouple
over a year ago

Cramlington

"Despite learning to play the piano to a decent standard as a kid, I really struggled with guitar. And I'm talking about shit busker strum along standard.

The problem I found more than anything else was that there were very few resources on rhythm/strum technique [stop giggling at the back], I spent a lot in books but never seemed to improve..

But now, YouTube. Pretty much every song has a 'today I'm going to show you how to play___' page.

As soon as you get to the point where you can reliably change between 4 or 5 (A, E, D, G, C) that's where I'd head.

For now forget about any song with a Barre F and play an Fmaj7 (xx3210) and it'll likely sound good enough for you to sing along to as you keep time.

I'm still really struggling but the other week I got to the point where people actually recognised stuff I was playing and tried to join in. Makes you feel like a fucking rockstar"

Thing is barre chords can really open up the guitar sound for you.

If someone's got an electronic tuner here's a great tip - put the guitar into a Keith Richards Spanish tuning (DGDGBD) and just practice barring all six strings but only sounding the top five. You'll quickly learn to hold all six strings down, and quickly learn quite a few rifs that sound like the stones, and then be able to transfer your barre technique back to a guitar in another tuning.

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

Try Justin guitar on internet! Find his website.

A well thought out and structured course of video lessons. It's free.

It's all you need. Like life... you'll get out what you put in.

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By *anrteeCouple
over a year ago

London

you cant dodge the barre chords, you just need to persevere and get to grips with them as it will really open up the fret board for you. Learn some pentatonic scales too.

There is loads of stuff on strumming and rhythm on youtube. A good technique is to practice some 12 bar blues. A song with dead easy chords which will teach you stringing together different strum patterns is (don't say anything - purely for learning perspective) wonderwall by oasis.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Practice scales, they will help not only with getting faster on the neck but will also improve your overall playing and understanding of guitar"

Not sure what you mean by that? Do you mean using a capo? I have done a few times on 1 or 2 songs.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"It's about 45 years of learning for me and it never stops...like others have said I never picked them up often enough to really master the guitar but I love playing so stick at it OP...it's worth it."

I will do, even more determined when I hear guitar solos.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Despite learning to play the piano to a decent standard as a kid, I really struggled with guitar. And I'm talking about shit busker strum along standard.

The problem I found more than anything else was that there were very few resources on rhythm/strum technique [stop giggling at the back], I spent a lot in books but never seemed to improve..

But now, YouTube. Pretty much every song has a 'today I'm going to show you how to play___' page.

As soon as you get to the point where you can reliably change between 4 or 5 (A, E, D, G, C) that's where I'd head.

For now forget about any song with a Barre F and play an Fmaj7 (xx3210) and it'll likely sound good enough for you to sing along to as you keep time.

I'm still really struggling but the other week I got to the point where people actually recognised stuff I was playing and tried to join in. Makes you feel like a fucking rockstar

Thing is barre chords can really open up the guitar sound for you.

Not sure I've got to barre chords yet?!

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Despite learning to play the piano to a decent standard as a kid, I really struggled with guitar. And I'm talking about shit busker strum along standard.

The problem I found more than anything else was that there were very few resources on rhythm/strum technique [stop giggling at the back], I spent a lot in books but never seemed to improve..

But now, YouTube. Pretty much every song has a 'today I'm going to show you how to play___' page.

As soon as you get to the point where you can reliably change between 4 or 5 (A, E, D, G, C) that's where I'd head.

For now forget about any song with a Barre F and play an Fmaj7 (xx3210) and it'll likely sound good enough for you to sing along to as you keep time.

I'm still really struggling but the other week I got to the point where people actually recognised stuff I was playing and tried to join in. Makes you feel like a fucking rockstar

Thing is barre chords can really open up the guitar sound for you.

Not sure I've got to barre chords yet?!

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Try Justin guitar on internet! Find his website.

A well thought out and structured course of video lessons. It's free.

It's all you need. Like life... you'll get out what you put in.

That's what I'm following, also bought his beginners book, with x amiunt of songs in there. Still on 1st lot of songs.

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

Tried as a kid but kept breaking strings thinking i cas in a metal band

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

John Peel played a Steve Vai record????

You sure mun - seems the kind of thing he’d have run a mile from (like me)

I used to teach guitar at the height of the Britpop era. Gawd only knows how many aspiring guitarists I taught to play flipping Wonderwall

yep ... in 1984 peely thought vai's flex-able album was genius .... and he was right

That’s fascinating - genuinely! Learn something every day

Maybe I’ll have to check it out if it’s available.

flex-able ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjHR-SI7Bv0&list=PL5kM39jyvEUtSVcp5YpY9a6u4TPPDPKfd

flex-able leftovers ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY1BBcvwpi0&index=2&list=PLNzWZyQn9bCdxGQQcJO0AZ6sH8WfdlSvU

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

did we find out what sort of guitar you are learning to play with OP?

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

Fuck the acoustics right off and get electric with a decent amp. Rock out with cock out.

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

"Fuck the acoustics right off and get electric with a decent amp. Rock out with cock out.

I much prefer acoustic nowadays. Electric, with plenty of overdrive, will mask poor technique, but isn't necessarily a good thing.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"did we find out what sort of guitar you are learning to play with OP?"

Fender acoustic. Maybe a CD140, think bought it for £180ish.

I use a pick as well..

You?

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

"Fuck the acoustics right off and get electric with a decent amp. Rock out with cock out.

I much prefer acoustic nowadays. Electric, with plenty of overdrive, will mask poor technique, but isn't necessarily a good thing.

Are we to have crossroads guitar challenge here Mr. Haha

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

"Fuck the acoustics right off and get electric with a decent amp. Rock out with cock out.

I much prefer acoustic nowadays. Electric, with plenty of overdrive, will mask poor technique, but isn't necessarily a good thing.

No I agree overdrive does hide mistakes. But I play fenders through clean amps and I do use overdrive but not too much as it sounds muddy. I'm a proper gear nerd and have spent thousands.

Are we to have crossroads guitar challenge here Mr. Haha

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By *eliciousladyWoman
over a year ago

Sometimes U.K

" Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise? "

Sounds just like me.

Learnt in my teens then discovered pubs and clubs and my guitar was abandoned to the back of the cupboard.

40 years later am trying to pick up where I left off, it’s not easy

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

"did we find out what sort of guitar you are learning to play with OP?

Fender acoustic. Maybe a CD140, think bought it for £180ish.

I use a pick as well..

You?"

where do i start? lol .... i got scores of them.

cd140's are pretty decent, usually good action and intonation which helps when you start out. if you're having trouble with getting a clean sound from bar chords then try lighter gauge strings for a bit until you get some strength and flexability in your fingers and don't worry about tuning your guitar to concert pitch, just get the thing in tune with itself. you won't be playing any concerts for a while.

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By *hatYorkLadMan
over a year ago

York

I've been playing for years and have a few guitars laid around the house. I wouldn't say I'm great at it but I like to sit and play just for myself.

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By *lik and PaulCouple
over a year ago

Flagrante

I will do, even more determined when I hear guitar solos."

When it comes to solos, someone earlier mentioned pentatonic scales and you can find reference to these on the interweb....often known as the blues scale...master those (not that difficult) and solos will quickly follow.

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

"Try Justin guitar on internet! Find his website.

A well thought out and structured course of video lessons. It's free.

It's all you need. Like life... you'll get out what you put in.

That's what I'm following, also bought his beginners book, with x amiunt of songs in there. Still on 1st lot of songs."

Use the book as a companion to his website. Having someone explain and demonstrate what the book means the video close ups and hints and tips by someone that has either made all the mistakes most beginners make or, seen them while teaching others is invaluable. Don't skip the technical stuff and... Practice!

We all have off days but if you never give up you'll get there and a played guitar is a friend for life.

Practice

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

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier

It is if you've got perfect pitch to get the E in tune to begin with, otherwise it's just relative and not very much use."

having a guitar in concert pitch is utterly irrelevent when starting off .... the only time you need concert pitch is when you're going to play with musicians who are using an instrument with fixed tuning like a saxaphone or a flute, then you can just tune your guitar to their fixed tuning

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

"Try Justin guitar on internet! Find his website.

A well thought out and structured course of video lessons. It's free.

It's all you need. Like life... you'll get out what you put in.

Great resource - his YouTube videos on how to play certain songs are great.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

" Anyone else learning?

Do you do the 1 min chord changes exercise?

Sounds just like me.

Learnt in my teens then discovered pubs and clubs and my guitar was abandoned to the back of the cupboard.

40 years later am trying to pick up where I left off, it’s not easy

Wel, you've picked it back up for a reason. Like everyone else has said, stick with it.

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

"Fuck the acoustics right off and get electric with a decent amp. Rock out with cock out.

I much prefer acoustic nowadays. Electric, with plenty of overdrive, will mask poor technique, but isn't necessarily a good thing.

No I agree overdrive does hide mistakes. But I play fenders through clean amps and I do use overdrive but not too much as it sounds muddy. I'm a proper gear nerd and have spent thousands.

Are we to have crossroads guitar challenge here Mr. Haha

Haha! I'm in no position to challenge anyone!

I was always more of a fan of twin humbuckers. Love the Les Paul sound, but then it was Guns n Roses that got me into guitar in the first place, so I would do really.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

"Try Justin guitar on internet! Find his website.

A well thought out and structured course of video lessons. It's free.

It's all you need. Like life... you'll get out what you put in.

Great resource - his YouTube videos on how to play certain songs are great."

Agreed, I do use his website and videos. He's easy to understand and follow.

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

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier

It is if you've got perfect pitch to get the E in tune to begin with, otherwise it's just relative and not very much use.

Unless you want to play along with a song...

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

Yes. I find a little every day really progresses your ability, as well as your fingers adjusting to the discomfort.

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

"Fuck the acoustics right off and get electric with a decent amp. Rock out with cock out.

I much prefer acoustic nowadays. Electric, with plenty of overdrive, will mask poor technique, but isn't necessarily a good thing.

No I agree overdrive does hide mistakes. But I play fenders through clean amps and I do use overdrive but not too much as it sounds muddy. I'm a proper gear nerd and have spent thousands.

Are we to have crossroads guitar challenge here Mr. Haha

Haha! I'm in no position to challenge anyone!

I was always more of a fan of twin humbuckers. Love the Les Paul sound, but then it was Guns n Roses that got me into guitar in the first place, so I would do really.

Appreciate the sound of humbukers but was just too dirty for me. I love the sound of clean strat. Plus I owned a les Paul and after 2 hours of playing on stage just got too heavy.

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

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier

It is if you've got perfect pitch to get the E in tune to begin with, otherwise it's just relative and not very much use.

Unless you want to play along with a song..."

.... and then you just tune it to the song .... it's not rocket science dude

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

i learned to play guitar just so i could write songs...thats all the guitar is to me..its a tool...

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

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier

It is if you've got perfect pitch to get the E in tune to begin with, otherwise it's just relative and not very much use.

Unless you want to play along with a song...

.... and then you just tune it to the song .... it's not rocket science dude

All guitarists that have got to or past a certain level know and understand what you're saying but, it sounds like you've completely forgotten what it's like to be a beginner.

Yes, lots of musicians tune up, tune down or tune to a completely different tuning but, knowing how to tell or work it out isn't novice stuff.

In answer to your question OP... things like one minute chord changes are useful. I still do it if learning a new song with a new or unusual chord shape or change. It saves going through the whole song and always floundering in the same place.

Breaking songs down into smaller sections is always a good way to approach it especially when you progress onto more complex songs and lead guitar parts.

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By *ill74 OP Man
over a year ago

New forest area

try tuning by harmonics ... much easier

It is if you've got perfect pitch to get the E in tune to begin with, otherwise it's just relative and not very much use.

Unless you want to play along with a song...

.... and then you just tune it to the song .... it's not rocket science dude

All guitarists that have got to or past a certain level know and understand what you're saying but, it sounds like you've completely forgotten what it's like to be a beginner.

Yes, lots of musicians tune up, tune down or tune to a completely different tuning but, knowing how to tell or work it out isn't novice stuff.

Breaking songs down into smaller sections is always a good way to approach it especially when you progress onto more complex songs and lead guitar parts."

Appreciate that. I do find myself going back to the chord changes exercise. I don't want to be perfect, but I want to be able to play a song, and people recognise it.

Practice and patience.

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

ok, just for clarity, what i'm trying to get across is forget concert pitch, just tune your strings to themselves .... remember folks 6 of the 10 tracks on highway to hell by ac/dc are out of pitch and the second half of heartbreaker by led zep is out of pitch etc etc

check out harmonic tuning, it really helps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Zw175mInQ

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

Yeah I like to practice

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

Still hasn't come out of it's bag lol.

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