benkim: Want To Start Learning Guitar

PitchforkArms 05.14.14	play chords, and scales, over, and over, and over
MuhNamesTyler 05.14.14	Have a rich friend that takes lessons, leech off of their musical teachings. That's what I did
Trebor. 05.14.14	"After years of procrastinating I finally want to start learning guitar." lol I use guitar to procrastinate
Trebor. 05.14.14	learn on your own, it's harder and takes longer at first but it's worth it Just try to learn shit you want to play
benkim 05.14.14	Finally fixed the mess! Problem is I don't have a rich friend sadly. Also, is there a difference if I learn with the acoustic or the electric?
benkim 05.14.14	learn on your own, it's harder and takes longer at first but it's worth it Just try to learn shit you want to play ----------------------- Learn on my own using what is the big question?! I feel totally lost tbh
aircycle 05.14.14	acoustic will help your hand/finger strength
SitarHero 05.14.14	The key is to not get frustrated and quit in the early going. Learning guitar is, at the beginning, both metaphorically and literally painful. But if you can stick with it through the first month and learn how to fret the damn thing properly as well as a few chords and scales it's all gravy from there.
Trebor. 05.14.14	acoustics are generally harder to play, especially if they have rounded strings, and if it's not a cut out then you can't play as much shit Playing with an electric plugged in to an amp with distortion on really amplifies mistakes and improper technique which is good. Like buzzing in between notes from not muting properly
SitarHero 05.14.14	"Playing with an electric plugged in to an amp with distortion on really amplifies mistakes and improper technique which is good." Umm, in my experience it's the opposite. Playing with distortion covers up mistakes with not playing cleanly. Start with an acoustic and if you can play it cleanly an electric will be no hassle.
benkim 05.14.14	Pretty great advice guys, thanks. So should I just begin with learning chords and scales? Are tutorial videos helpful or should I use other stuff? Any recs?
Trebor. 05.14.14	I don't know man playing with distortion really helped me clean up and learn how to lift my left fingers in between power chords and stuff like that
Trebor. 05.14.14	I didn't bother with scales for the first couple of years I played I didn't learn proper chords either which I kind of regret I didn't learn chords until I got into playing ska lol
Emyay 05.14.14	yeah i started on acoustic trying to play opeth songs (the heavy parts too) and eventually i got good enough where i felt good enough to justify buying an electric and an amp
Athom 05.14.14	Distortion covers up mistakes like a mother fucker. It adds more sustain to your notes so it sounds like you're holding down the notes perfectly when in reality they can be sloppy as shit.
Athom 05.14.14	My one piece of advice is to use your pinky. If you take short cuts as far as learning how to play fast or really complex chords, you're gonna hit a wall and need that pinky and when you do you're gonna have to learn how to play guitar all over again because it has zero muscle memory.
DikkoZinner 05.14.14	Smoke On The Water
benkim 05.14.14	I didn't bother with scales for the first couple of years I played I didn't learn proper chords either which I kind of regret ---------------------- So what exactly did you start bothering with? haha I kind of need really specific advice.
demigod! 05.14.14	listen to modest mouse, love modest mouse, learn modest mouse riffs
PitchforkArms 05.14.14	well if you use distortion to just play really fast and sloppy, than yeah it will sound a little better, but Treb is 100% right when playing with even the slightest bit of technicality it points out mistakes
SitarHero 05.14.14	Benkim, so I took guitar lessons for a couple of weeks when I started, which didn't really teach me much except technique, which was extremely useful later once I really fell in love the the instrument and started practicing religiously. My suggestion is take a couple of lessons just to get a feel for playing guitar and to have some sort of goal-setting, because it's easy to get lazy and quit if you don't have a guitar teacher on your ass making sure you're prepared for the class. Then once you have the basics in order you can start learning songs that you want to learn.
Trebor. 05.14.14	honestly playing guitar hero really helped me develop my pinky
benkim 05.14.14	My one piece of advice is to use your pinky. If you take short cuts as far as learning how to play fast or really complex chords, you're gonna hit a wall and need that pinky and when you do you're gonna have to learn how to play guitar all over again because it has zero muscle memory. ------------------------------ Wow I am going to remember that!
MuhNamesTyler 05.14.14	"So what exactly did you start bothering with? haha I kind of need really specific advice." Smoke on the Water [2] Learn that
Greyvy 05.14.14	pick up a guitar. start fiddling with it. thats how i played guitar for the first 6 months then i started learning chords, etc.
Trebor. 05.14.14	OK so yeah don't use distortion while you're still learning how to hold down the frets properly, but a bit after that yeah
Trebor. 05.14.14	"So what exactly did you start bothering with? haha I kind of need really specific advice." simple riffs and power chords. Modest Mouse and punk rock basically. I learned because I wanted to play in a punk band, so that's what I did basically
Gwyn. 05.14.14	Doubles Nickel on the Dime has a lot of fairly simple songs on guitar, it uses chords but they're really simple
ZombicidalMan 05.14.14	Treb's given some pretty damn good advice so far. I agree it's essential to learn songs that you would like to play. For me, I started with learning Black Sabbath (the song). It took me like an entire month to learn it semi-decently. The frustrating part is that it will be really slow to see progress in the first few weeks/months. When you've learned a handful of easy songs (try early metal like Sabbath, alt like Nirvana or Weezer, classic punk like Bad Religion, etc.) then pick something more difficult. As you try harder songs you'll start to pick up on techniques like palm muting and alternate picking and you'll get the hang of it. I took lessons for maybe a year on and off, which kept me motivated, but learning on your own is really important. Just learn to read tabs at first, if you're super dedicated eventually go for sheet music too. Get your basic chords down and move on to scales later
Athom 05.14.14	I think the most important thing when you're first starting out is to keep it engaging and to set easy enough goals so that you're constantly reinforcing your want to keep learning. Look up tabs for the songs that you like and find some simple ones and learn those. Most are probably going to be power chords and maybe a few little weenie leads. But make sure not to completely forget your standard chords. Power chords and majors are great and all, but are all the same shape. When you play more traditional chord structures it really helps you transition smoother and work up your strength and muscle memory in your hands. When you get to a point where you're learning techniques like tremolo picking, alternate picking, clawhammer, fingerpicking, etc etc make sure to keep the new things you learn in your repertoire as warm ups so you don't forget them. When I was in high school I loved alternate picking (think that riff At The Gates uses in every song) but I haven't played that style of music in years. If you asked me to do alternate picking riffs I could do them but they would be sloppy unless I had a half hour or so to warm up and remember exactly how to use my hands and wrist for them. Just like all the math you learn as a kid, if you don't use it, you lose it.
ZombicidalMan 05.14.14	I also agree that once you've gotten better it's a good idea to play loud or with distortion. It really doesn't cover up your mistakes, it makes them clearer and easier to hear, especially the little things like your fingers touching strings by accident. FYI In Flames would be great to try once you've gotten the hang of playing guitar. Their leads and riffs might seem tough at first but most of them are really easy and help you get a lot of techniques and scales down
Greyvy 05.14.14	the first song i learned on guitar was Mary had a little lamb
Trebor. 05.14.14	Starting a band is great for motivation lol Adam, I remember being able to play At The Gates shit nonstop back in high school but now my right hand dies after like two songs
benkim 05.14.14	Thanks guys, I think I am ready to start now. Keep the advice coming though as I will be using this thread as a reference from time to time. A lot of the stuff that doesn't make sense now I am sure will when I start playing. Now to find that instructor...
ZombicidalMan 05.14.14	I remember being able to play At The Gates shit nonstop back in high school but now my right hand dies after like two songs [2] lol so true. now I can freaking tremolo pick like the wind thanks to post-rock though
MuhNamesTyler 05.14.14	The first riff I ever learned was Seven Nation Army
Trebor. 05.14.14	I've always had a bit of trouble with trems My biggest strengths are picking complicated arpeggio patterns and tapping I guess
benkim 05.14.14	"the first song i learned on guitar was Mary had a little lamb" I think I will start with that lol
ZombicidalMan 05.14.14	I can do some tapping from Death songs but I'm no Dave Knudson yet
ncguitar 05.14.14	my first song was "epitaph" by necrophagist
Trebor. 05.14.14	The first thing I learned was foxtrot uniform charlie kilo by bloodhound gang why
R6Rider 05.14.14	I started by learning how to play Metallica and Pantera songs. Buy a songbook with tabs by a band you like, considering they have songbooks. Online tabs can be very inaccurate and sloppy sometimes so I would stay away from those, unless they're official. It's a lot more interesting to learn songs by bands you like rather than just learning scales. You get a better idea of how things work on the fretboard this way.
Athom 05.14.14	I started on bass for 6 months and then moved up to guitar. That made things really easy. I know the first song I learned on bass was Local H's Bound for the Floor. Dunno what the first song I learned on guitar was. It might have been Paris In Flames.
Greyvy 05.14.14	"I think I will start with that lol" after you learn mary had a little lamb, learn Happy Birthday. Then you are ready to learn guitar forealsies.
Greyvy 05.14.14	people are also giving advice that is useless for someone who hasn't even played guitar yet, you are probably feeling lost lol.
Athom 05.14.14	http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/Images/guitar-chords-chart.jpg if you want to start somewhere. here.
XingKing 05.14.14	I absolutely recommend that you pirate Guitarpro. It is amazing
ZombicidalMan 05.14.14	truth, guitarpro is a life saver But I think it can be daunting for such a beginner. Once you can actually play some songs you should use it as often as possible
benkim 05.14.14	"people are also giving advice that is useless for someone who hasn't even played guitar yet, you are probably feeling lost lol." lol yeah, but as I said, I will use it as a reference later. All this will make sense when I get there.
ncguitar 05.14.14	learn rusty cooley material for beginners
MeatSalad 05.15.14	all i did was learn songs that sounded simple and that i wanted to play at first, along the way i learned chords and scales and such. internet is a great place to teach yourself guitar for proof of how well this worked for me look up Better Music - Better Album on bandcamp
Thibs 05.15.14	weezer
sapient 05.15.14	"Just try to learn shit you want to play" This. Literally my second song I learned how to play was Three of a Perfect Pai by King Crimson, and even if it was hard as fuck at first and took awhile to learn, I was having fun actually playing stuff I wanted to play
ScuroFantasma 05.15.14	I would get an Electric for a first guitar, only because you have more diveristy on an Electric than on an Acoustic. Also, it's easier on your fingers and at the beginning, a lot of players quit because it hurts. But if you're not a bitch, you can get either, both still hurt in the beginning so... Don't give up either. You will get frustrated when you can't do stuff perfectly, I used to throw my pick in frustration sometimes. You will improve though, and you will notice it slowly. There will be chord shapes that you won't be able to make easily, and then a month later you will be using them in songs or making up your own. Also, I would purchase a book too. The internet is great and you should definitely use it, but having a physical tool to learn from is very much worth it. Internet connections can be lost, or take forever to load, and you can easily get distracted. Book is the way to go, most even come with CD's and DVD's as well. And GET YOUR LEFT HAND IN THE RIGHT POSITION FROM THE START. Don't bend your wrist awkwardly or have your thumb pointing parallel to the neck, in a 'hitch-hiker' position. Your wrist will hurt if it's in the wrong position (which will only be if you strain to get it like that since that's an unnatural bending, your wrist shoule be straightish). And your thumb running parallel will cause the flesh on your palm to mute the bottom string. Just some stuff to look out for right at the start, will definitely save you time.
po0ty 05.15.14	Not sure if you've heard of it but I have Rocksmith 2014 on Steam and its singlehandedly responsible for me learning guitar. You plug in any guitar and you play along with songs guitar hero style but with real frets. There's plenty of good music stock + dlc for anyone plus a decent custom song project. It won't teach you theory or give you much feedback on what you're doing wrong but for me it jump started my drive to learn again.
Trebor. 05.15.14	Watch a video of This Town Needs Guns and then cry because you'll never be able to play it
jsaf7 05.15.14	Wonderwall by Oasis was actually the first song i learned how to play.. i'm pretty good now, but good luck man, hope u get good!
SitarHero 05.15.14	Wonderwall gets the chicks, which is the main reason to start playing guitar anyway. Start with that.
Greyvy 05.15.14	no but ok
SitarHero 05.15.14	Watch and learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5QCs3PnQBc Video is the absolute honest to god truth.
osmark86 05.15.14	coincidentally Wonderwall was one of the first songs I learned to play too. but not to get laid since I was about 11 at the time and just really dug Oasis because it was the 90s. ^^
SitarHero 05.15.14	Wonderwall Freefalling Your Body is a Wonderland The holy trinity of getting laid acoustic guitaring stuff. If she (or he) is really playing hard to get, pull out Crash Into Me and/or Hey There Delilah. Guaranteed to work every time.
SitarHero 05.15.14	Or you can bypass all of it and learn Jeff Buckley's hallelujah, but you gotta sing it too.
osmark86 05.15.14	...and scheisse easy to play as well. no talent warranted.
osmark86 05.15.14	yup, that one works too, but requires a little more of ze knowledge to play than beginner level tier stuff.
SitarHero 05.15.14	The intro and the break are pretty tough, but the actual song isn't any harder than anything else.
osmark86 05.15.14	I assumed you'd play it all. yes it's ripe with basic chords.
Emyay 05.15.14	I absolutely recommend that you pirate Guitarpro. It is amazing [2] ^ guitarpro has helped me so much. you can highlight a tricky section and slow it down to like 20% of its speed and play it continuously, increasing the speed each time, working your way up to full speed. that one feature is HUGE in my guitar playing development
SitarHero 05.15.14	"I assumed you'd play it all. yes it's ripe with basic chords." Yeah you could, but you wouldn't need to. Just the basic chords get the job done.
osmark86 05.15.14	troof mate, troof
DungeonBoy 05.15.14	"FYI In Flames would be great to try once you've gotten the hang of playing guitar. Their leads and riffs might seem tough at first but most of them are really easy and help you get a lot of techniques and scales down" [2] Coincidentally, The Jester Race was one of the first entire albums I learned to play on guitar. Super fun and easy guitar parts (not including that killer solo on December Flower..) The downtuning kinda sucks for a beginner if switching between standard, but I highly recommend finding a band you really like and try learning some basic rhythm and lead parts from tabs on the net. Good luck!
benkim 05.19.14	Okay, so I got started today and for the life of me, my fingers are burning. Is it important to build up finger strength first using exercises because I do feel it would be pretty useful later?
ZombicidalMan 05.19.14	It's not imperative to target finger strength. I only say this because the more learn and practice, the less your fingers will hurt. It usually takes a few weeks or maybe even a month or two for your fingers to stop hurting when you play. Chords and scales will whip those digits into shape pretty fast
DominionMM1 05.19.14	don't forget string bending
benkim 05.19.14	"It usually takes a few weeks or maybe even a month or two for your fingers to stop hurting when you play." So basically finger strength will come naturally when practicing right? "don't forget string bending" I will try and find out what that is.
DominionMM1 05.19.14	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T-DjrQ6r8Q
SitarHero 05.19.14	Your callouses will develop callouses until you develop to the point when you lose all feeling in your fingertips completely. That's when you start to really learn.
DominionMM1 05.19.14	my fingertips are flat from playing
Relinquished 05.19.14	yea no kidding
SitarHero 05.19.14	Ha! Yeah mine used to be like that too, but they've grown back. They look pretty normal now but feel significantly different.
Salvidian 05.19.14	I learned stuff by SOAD and then I branched into Tool. After that I played a lot of Gorguts and miscellaneous stuff. Seemed to work for me considering I now play for a living.
BlackLlama 05.19.14	Actually, some early Metallica and Slayer riffs are great for beginners. I cut my chops learning the chords to songs like Whiplash and Seek and Destroy. Then I advanced to the fingering for songs like MoP and South of Heaven.... great, now I'm at work and I want to jam :
SitarHero 05.19.14	Slayer and Metallica riffs are good practice for right hand picking technique.
Confessed2005 08.12.18	Everything musical writes itself.