HAI, Newb Guitarist needz Halp (and cookies).

Blooby

Pronounced: (Blue-bee)
Jul 11, 2007
1,846
23
43
Islamabad
Salam, Hi, Hello, Gutentag, Yo, Hullo, Gra-weep-nana-weep-ninibam and Greetings.
Well...i just (as in 3 weeks ago) bought an electric guitar and after a while of watching internet lessons, IM STUMPED.
I need directions real bad, i'd take classes but my o' so busy schedule does not permit that. Looking around, I found that there are quite a few guitarists here (i'm Looking at you Amar, Bad Mofo and R1CK) sooo....I was wondering if you guys could err...help me :3
Much obliged.
 

Benighted

Night is the new day
May 28, 2009
2,476
2
44
31
Tartarus
What you need help with? be specific.

I dont know about myself, but R1CK, Bad Mofo, fareedusmani etc.... might be very helpful with their sexy guitar knowledge. :)
 

R1CK

Acid trippy
Nov 9, 2007
643
0
21
Lahore
Learnin' guitar needs time. Scheduled lessons or no scheduled lessons. But anyway:

If you are a total beginner... then I'd suggest the basic 123's of guitar =D

1. Spider tab

Do the spider exercise endlessly un till your finger muscles start to ache, when they do, it would mean that you have been working your fingers out which is a good thing.

Here's your typical spider exercise:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym9YDsbANDg[/ame]

The spiders I did rather 1 2 34 than O 1 2 3. But this works too, because its just a finger exercise
Keep in mind that speed, is NEVER important in exercises, what is important is tempo, if you're at a speed you're comfortable at (which is probably slow now) then keep at it just take care of the tempo. Over time the speed will come to you naturally.

The spider is something that you will never think of being too lame for you, lemme tell you that. I do it still to keep my fingers good, Dave mustane still does it, Slash probably does it too, everyone pretty much does the spiders so never let go of them.


2. La Chords

for now, I suggest you look up and memorize these chords:

G Major
C Major
D Major
E Major
A Major

You can get a good bunch of basic songs out of these chords. E.g 'knockin' on heavn's door' by Bob Dylan is a progression of G maj, D maj, C maj on repeat. So learn these chords. They get more varied, into minor chords, minor7chords, major7chords, and barre chords come etc. but that's not your concern for now

It's not necessary that you learn these two lessons one at a time, you can start with any and progress through any. They will be frustrating at first, but you'll learn to love playing guitar once you get the hang of it. It's awesome.

If you want more insight or info, then go to www.spytunes.com. I learned all of my basics from there.
Good Luck =D
 

r3aper

W'Sup, G?
Jul 23, 2007
8,329
34
54
Karachi
I might be wrong.....but electric guitars are not for beginners!
Get an acoustic one first practice on that and once you have mastered that and you are ready for the next dimension get an electric!
 

Blooby

Pronounced: (Blue-bee)
Jul 11, 2007
1,846
23
43
Islamabad
Well, i did my research and found out that electrics are actually easier to learn. But Acoustics are recommended 'cause if you play an acoustic, the transistion to electric is much easier rather then the electric to acoustic.
Plus, they said Electrics generally show results soon, which for me is a BIIIG factor. I tend to get dishearted a tad quick T_T.

P.S R1CK I OWE YOU....SOMETHING!
 

Bad Mofo

Frakkin' Toaster!
May 27, 2008
5,397
0
41
@Blooby:

First of all, congrats! And where's the pics of the beauty?!

Okay, first most important thing: like Rick said, learn chords.

These will improve your motor skills. Play chords over and over and over again until you remember them completely. This way, you only have to think "C Major to A Minor" and you fingers will automatically move to the appropriate chord shapes.

Learn the basic chords first: these include the easy Majors (E, A, C, D, G) and the Minors (A, E, D). Then all you need is to learn what a "Barre Chord" is and there; you know ALL the chords in the world.

Like Rick said, G D C are easy chords since they fall under the I-IV-V Chord Progression (more on that much later). A lot of songs are based around those chords. Or E A B. All major chords.

Try the C Am D G (A Minor, rest major) as well for the minor chord mix-up.

Second most important thing: learn how to read tabs (tabulature).

Here's a guide:

http://guitar.about.com/od/tabchordslyrics/ss/read_guitar_tab.htm

Once you kinda learn your way around guitar tabs, you're totally self-sufficient.

The best way to learn how to play the guitar is on your own and at your own pace.

Third: pick a song you love (and think is guitar-wise not too challenging) and learn how to play it with the help of tabs. It's way easier than you think it is. It'll give you a good rough guide to what amazing shit you can do with the guitar. Motivation and lesson all rolled into one.

Best of luck; have fun, keep rocking and ask away whenever you want.
 

Benighted

Night is the new day
May 28, 2009
2,476
2
44
31
Tartarus
I might be wrong.....but electric guitars are not for beginners!
Get an acoustic one first practice on that and once you have mastered that and you are ready for the next dimension get an electric!
You are wrong. Electric is much much easier than Acoustic.... Beginners starting with acoustic get disheartened.
 

R1CK

Acid trippy
Nov 9, 2007
643
0
21
Lahore
Oh yeah! I wanted to ask about your guitar too! pics or gtfo! xD

You are wrong. Electric is much much easier than Acoustic.... Beginners starting with acoustic get disheartened.
Yeah. same was teh case with me. when I was at my teething problems when I started with an acoustic guitar, it was very de-motivating and frustrating, but I carried on, and now I have the benefit of strong finger tips. That is pretty much why people recommend to start on acoustic, because of the strings which are harder to press on acoustic, will strengthen your fingers, and when you switch to electric, it'ill be all but smooth sailing.
 

Muaaz

Wild Hunt
Jan 26, 2007
12,228
1
43
Dutchy of Touissant
Erm , so if I'm interested in buying a guitar for myself , I should get an acoustic or electric ?

Having said that I'm so interested in buying one that I read this entire thread :p
 

Benighted

Night is the new day
May 28, 2009
2,476
2
44
31
Tartarus
Oh yeah! I wanted to ask about your guitar too! pics or gtfo! xD



Yeah. same was teh case with me. when I was at my teething problems when I started with an acoustic guitar, it was very de-motivating and frustrating, but I carried on, and now I have the benefit of strong finger tips. That is pretty much why people recommend to start on acoustic, because of the strings which are harder to press on acoustic, will strengthen your fingers, and when you switch to electric, it'ill be all but smooth sailing.
True. same with me. Started with an acoustic 4 years ago... and still working on it. Haven't even touched an electric yet.

But i'd still recommend an electric.... you know, just for the sake of motivation, and a little glimpse on how it feels to be a Rock God! xD

P.S: R1CK.... do you mute the string coming in your way when you full-bend a note?
 

Blooby

Pronounced: (Blue-bee)
Jul 11, 2007
1,846
23
43
Islamabad
Well i don't have access to a good enough camera for a photo atm but i found a picture online of one that looks exactly like mine (It's the same model too):
I bought it used, the condition is OK. A few scratches here and there but it plays well (I think).
 

Blooby

Pronounced: (Blue-bee)
Jul 11, 2007
1,846
23
43
Islamabad
Close...It's an Aria Pro II Stagecaster. A Strat copy, made by "Matsumoko" and seems like they're good guitars. So...YAY :p
 

Conscript

I <3 Bungie
Jan 20, 2007
10,442
6
43
Reach
Hmm. This thread adheres to my interests too. Have an acoustic lying around somewhere. Just too lazy to learn it.
 

Benighted

Night is the new day
May 28, 2009
2,476
2
44
31
Tartarus
I don't. But my guitar does xD It uber suckage quality. I'm thinking of getting a Yamaha F310 acoustic soon enough =D
hahaha.... exactly the same with me... =P

I am just worried that when i switch to an electric, bending can get tricky....

And Barre chords are whole alot easier on Electric.
 
Last edited:

refnulf

Pvt. refnulf
Apr 24, 2009
156
0
21
Islamabad
Get your technique down right guys. Honestly, it might sound like I'm being a bit of a twat and jumping on your asses preventing you from learning fun stuff, BUT GET YOUR TECHNIQUE DOWN RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

The worst thing is when you're playing for ages and it hits you that your bends are too sloppy. Then you realize, "oh wait. If I'm using my third finger to bend, I can use my middle finger to mute the string above so that when I release the bend it doesn't sound like I've just unleashed a thunderous wet fart."

Learn to play in time also. It's very, very important.

PS: This all simple, straightforward stuff that matters a considerable deal. Don't ignore it.
 

Benighted

Night is the new day
May 28, 2009
2,476
2
44
31
Tartarus
I started using my pinky on the fretboard after 4 years of practice without it. Still dont use it on higher frets.
 
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