Learning the guitar thread!!!

[lespaulphoenix]

Guided guitar study for beginners.


With all the info out there, it's a little difficult to pinpoint where to start when learning guitar.
Here's a direction!

-Major Chords

-Minor Chords

-Power Chords

-CAGED system

-Major Scale (Ionian)

-Minor Scale (Aeolian)

-Minor Pentatonic scale

-Blues Scale

Super rudimentary songs:

"Blitzrieg Bop"-The Ramones (if i spelt that wrong.. I really don't care)

"Time of Your Life"- Green Day

"Story of my Life"- Social Distortion

G, C, D all day, peeps!

For advice concerning how to practice these things ask in response to this post

 

[UnseenWombat]

I have a question.

Does playing the guitar help me score chicks?

At one point I wanted to learn to play the guitar for this reason, but thankfully before I actually put in time and effort (and possibly even money), I already knew I had no musical talent. So I didn't.

Good luck to everyone else who wants to learn though. I think it's really cool!

 

[lespaulphoenix]

At one point I wanted to learn to play the guitar for this reason, but thankfully before I actually put in time and effort (and possibly even money), I already knew I had no musical talent. So I didn't.

Good luck to everyone else who wants to learn though. I think it's really cool!

I honestly had no musical inclination as I first began;
this is rather ironic because out of all that I've tried I was a quick learner and seemed to have a natural knack for it.
Examples: Acting, Writing, Martial arts... That kind of stuff.
I was just good at it. There was no inexplicable reason as to why I was so good so soon. Unfortunately, with the natural ability came this reluctance to keep these talents. If I was so good so soon, there was no real reason to take the initiative and keep learning.

The irony, perhaps, is that there was this urge deep within me to learn music. I don't know how to explain it, but the guitar had a calming effect, and a calling for me to pick it up.

Defying my lazy nature, I did what i never did.

I worked. And I worked hard. Got a part time job and held it long enough to buy a used Epiphone Les Paul. (I have no luck maintaining a real job. lol)

No matter how hard I worked, it seemed as if I have light years to go. The learning curve was (and is) agonizing and slow. Still, there is always that urge; with that little voice, I pick it up and struggle along.

I don't know if anything will become of it outside of an improved work ethic, but I sure hope there is!

I don't think this is the case with everyone. We're all different people with a different path to walk, but I thought it would be suitable to write this on a thread dedicated to guitar.

Well, man, if you ever change your mind, you can always post some questions. I'd probably be able to spell out some concepts in a way guys like us (gamers) can understand. Thanks for posting up, man!

Hope all is well!

 

[Hot Rod Dave]

Ill never forget day one of my guitar lesson. I walked in knowing just barley how to hold my guitar to walking out knowing the major chords and barley getting out "wild thing".

Its been years since that day. And ill go 6 months of playing it here and there then 2 years in the closet. I still remeber most of mu blues scales
That i would have to practice over and over. Looking back i see what they were for now. I was to young to take it to serious.

I always enjoyed knowing a little bit on the guitar. Going to parties seeing a guitar and strumming out green days "time of your life" to impress some chick i was trying to bang. Worked most the time.

Props to you hes for trying to spread the music love. If more people knew a few chords the world would be a better place.

Now what are your thoughts on my favorite band.....311. HINT. There IS a correct answer here.

HRD

 

[Zane]

tbh, there's nothing really "skill level" oriented when it comes to learning most songs. Unless you're looking at "Peganini's 5th Caprice" or something extremely technical like that.

My suggestion is this: pick 3-5 songs you like and learn them. You'll know if they're above your skill level.
For these 3-5 songs, make sure you have them on CD, ipod, whatever. You want to be able to listen to intervals, timing and what-not. Tabs only go so far (if that's how you learn.)


Was that a little too vague? If so, read on. What are a number of your few bands and/or favorite songs?! I could do some research, and come up with something.

If you're like me and you like to have your mind made up for you, My other suggestion is this:
There's this game that came out not too long ago, Rocksmith. With standard study of the instrument, I highly suggest that you pick it up; it essentially has songs for you to learn! What's more, it tells you when you're not doing it right.

Basically, you get lessons in timing, rudimentary guitar stuff (it covers techniques, but only to a certain level; you won't be studying sweep picking or something like that here.) you have song lessons laid out for you, AND there are these really neat mini games that work on certain aspects of guitar!!! http://www.gamestop.com/browse?nav=16k-Rocksmith

Again, I will say that you don't want this to be your ONLY method of learning. It has its uses, but it's not an "all-in-one" method.

My 3rd suggestion: the Ultimate Campfire song!!!!

the chords are such: D A Bm G . You can use barre chords to make this easier. Oooor you can use POWER CHORDS!!! You'll be excluding a few tonalities, but that's what I do when I'm too lazy to include the 3rds lol.

This song is AMAZING for a few reasons: you'll be able to play 95% of what people want to hear, and you'll get a few laughs out of people. ( Take notes, ShenOu. Play a guitar for a girl, she'll say "oh, that's cool!"... Play a song she LIKES, and KNOWS AND YOU MAKE HER LAUGH? Boom. There's a shallow and unsatisfying relationship based on a talent that doesn't continue a relationship past.. maybe 3 weeks?)

Wall of text dropped!

Well, what I do is I usually pick up songs I like, and try to learn some parts of it. I believe I told you I was learning the intro of Enter Sandman? yeah something like that. I play Rock Band 3 though, does that help? I think it's helping loosen up my fingers. Also, I'll be taking my guitar to school. That should help a bit.