Another new guy, trying to find rhythm?

[Learn2Play]

Hello all, names jamez. New to the guitar, I'm 21, last instrument i played was Trombone in 4th grade. Musically talentless, but I am tired of letting all this time pass in my life with out accomplishing anything...Moreover...

I am new to the guitar, My girlfriend recently purchased about a 200 dollar alverez acoustic for xmas. As of now I am learning chords, the basic ones I guess, however I am not sure which are basics...lol...I have a book, but there are 60 listed?

First question, my rhythm seems way off? Myabe because my transition from chord to chord is a lil slow cause im new? Any comments?

Question 2, My chords don't sound as good as the songs I downloaded like Bob Seger's Night Moves? SOmethgin wrong, tuned to an electric tuner? I also bought a decent Capo and it is on the first fret like necessary.

Oh yeah, my fingers hurt too, lol...I have some calices going on them too.

[Steerpike]

To address the first question, practice some nice slow folk songs to start because when you first work with a guitar, especially an acoustic, those heavy strings are going to put up one hell of a fight.

Chord transitions become easier as you build up the muscle memory. Even after you've memorized a chord shape, it takes time for your hands to adjust to the proper shape and only practice will do that.

Second, I would definately invest in an electric tuner for acoustic guitars. It'll make things much easier until you build up your ear.

The sound of the chords has a lot to do with how you're picking, how you're fretting, the type of strings you're using, etc. For a while, your chords are going to sound muted and rather lifeless, but that's natural. It'll get better with time.

Look into getting some Folk or Celtic songbooks as many of the ballads in those books are easy to learn and help build up a good technique early on.

[10th man down]

I think the first thing you should do is go and buy a metronome (if you haven't already). You wont regret it.

Then you should practice chord changes like this. If you hold a chord and let in ring a little, then you'll be getting a feel for the shape and it will start to get easier each time you play it. Plus the movements are further apart.

http://tinypic.com/mb6cqr.jpg

As for your hand pain, I would suggest to learn some scales which you can use to warm up with before you play. Just to get your fingers loose and more relaxed.

PS: Welcome to MX! :wave:

[Learn2Play]

Thanks and wonderful advice...But I want to update you two for answering me...After playing for a month, I realized my chords sucked right...well I had it tuned WRONG, ALL WRONG...I am talking the bottem HIGH pitch "e" string was at 4d>??? What the heck right, well I got it back to 654321, and IT SOUNDS AWESOME, EVERYTHING I PLAY IS AWESOME, I have been playing for 6 hours straight now...My fingertips are raw, but I am building wierd calices on my tips of fingers...lol...

So basically, The songs I was playing before and having timing issues...it's becuz my tuning was off throwing me WAY off...I have been playing for a motnh now and have over a dozen chords down...it is a workign progress.

Now, I do have a friend who is 26, been playing since he was 5, and he is very musically inclined, piano, trumpet, drums, and guitar, plus others liek keyboard...he has the fret board memorized...does this help with the guitar or is it not neceassary? Just wondering. Once Again thanks guys...I will invest into a metronome after I look them up and search around...You wouldn't happen to reccomend and types or brands woudl you?

PS.- MAWDYSON...where did you get that Windows Music Editor on that link? That is really neat.

[Learn2Play]

About Metronome's, Those are the pyramid shaped things correct?

[ChuckHouse]

About Metronome's, Those are the pyramid shaped things correct?

Em, yeah, traditionally. You can get an electronic one though.

[Steerpike]

Memorizing the fretboard helps early on. But go on a need-to-know basis so you don't give yourself an information overload. All you really need to know is what each open string should be in standard tuning, and the location of the root note for the chords you know. When you start playing barre chords and more unusual shapes, you'll learn more of the neck as you go.

Also try to learn the pentatonic scales, since that will help the process, and you can get an early start on improvising which is a really important skill.

[10th man down]

I did it in Powertab Editor which you can download for free.

LINKAGE: http://www.power-tab.net/downloads.php

[Learn2Play]

Thanks guys...advice is always welcome...taking Advil for the RAW fingers...but I'm loving it.