Help for extreme beginner

[BellamyIsGod]

Hello, i got my first ever guitar 1 week ago, a Fender Squier Strat..
Im having real difficulty trying to play things, i tried chords, but found that tabs were more fun to play as I have found that they do sound like the songs im aiming to play..
My problem is this, i love playing single string tabs, because as a 1 week noob they are much easier for me, however some songs that im trying to play (Meant to Live, Newborn) have 3 string tabs, i have 2 problems with these:

A)My fingers just dont feel natural at the frets they want them to be at, and i can only sustain this position for very little time, and changing from one fret to another takes about 5 seconds for me to phsyically look where im placing my hand

B)When i play these tabs, they just dont sound right! They kind of echo, but not together and sound awful, any help?

And finally, im really confused with some of the parts of my guitar, i have 2 tone knobs, how do these effect the sound? and also a little switch with 5 positions, if anybody could explain what each position is for i would be very greatful..

Many Thanks,
Kris

[drewhet]

allright

first off, it feels wierd at first and can be diffucult to switch strings, i know this as i started playing 5 months ago, but just keep practicing and eventually everything will feel natural.

the 2 tone knobs are for your high and low strings, turn one all the way down and the other up and play the low e and high E, one will be louder than the other.

the switch with 5 positions are for your pickups. (those 3 things on your body underneath the strings). the first position selects the first one, the second positon selects the 2nd + the 1st together, the third positoin(middle) selects the 2nd one only, the 4th position selects the 2nd and last one, and the last position selects the last pickup only

i hope this helps

[dyermaker0712]

ill agree...the first few weeks of playing are always tough

eventually you will get used to where the frets are and it will be second nature...fingerings for chords can be tough at first too....you just gotta PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! The more you practice, the easier it will become.

[BellamyIsGod]

Thank you! thats cleared lots up
Yea i expected the P word to come up in this lol

On a slight tangent, could anybody suggest some easy single string tabs of songs or solos. Ive been playing a very simplified version of the Newborn solo, and finding it ok. But im looking for some variety now...

And another question, pull offs..ive kinda got the grasp of how, but how do i do a pull of 7p0, same with hammers such as 4h0, how do i hammer/pull off to an open string?

[life of a dog]

it all takes practice and make sure your guitars in tune with whatever your trying to learn

[kiltz]

I think there's a thread on easy songs.

Edit: Found the link. http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150779

[rocken rossco]

just keep practising

[drewhet]

Thank you! thats cleared lots up
Yea i expected the P word to come up in this lol

On a slight tangent, could anybody suggest some easy single string tabs of songs or solos. Ive been playing a very simplified version of the Newborn solo, and finding it ok. But im looking for some variety now...

And another question, pull offs..ive kinda got the grasp of how, but how do i do a pull of 7p0, same with hammers such as 4h0, how do i hammer/pull off to an open string?

you must have read it wrong, you cant hammer onto open, you can hammer from an open string, 0h4. that would just be striking the open string and then hammering on to the 4th. and to pull off, 7p0, you just pull off of 7

[dyermaker0712]

to pull of from 7 to 0, u just gotta hit the on the seventh fret then pull of and let the open string ring...same idea with hammers...hit the open string then just hammer right on to the fourth fret from the open note. idk if that sounded a little confusing..but thats pretty much it

if u want a really easy song to start, try something like "seven nation army" by the white stripes, and if you wanna try to use some of those hammers, try the main part of "walk this way" by aerosmith

[HoefNugz]

First thing i learned when i had never ever picked up a guitar and had a few beers in me was seven nations army by white stripes the little bassy sounding notes that they open with. Here Ill tab it for ya real quick.

E-5-5-8-5-3-1-0------5-5-8-5-3-1-3-1-0 all on the low E string (first string from the top)

Edit: also come as you are by nirvana the intro to that is very easy

[deadline666]

Twist of Cain by Danzig is a good song when you're just starting out, it's good for practising getting your first bends down. And a pinch harmonic if you can do that too.