Guitar Help/Discussion

Yes, I used the search button. The other thread wasn't even worth bumping.

This thread is for the generall discussion of guitar playing and everything related. Working on a new song? Talk about. Maybe we can help. Nailed a kick ass solo? Post a vid! Chat politely about your favorite guitarists. Lessons or no lessons? Need help on a new technique? Brag about your new axe.

My current guitar is a Blade rh-4 classic:

You all probably have never heard of Blade before, but I can tell you it is a kick ass guitar. Blade is based in switzerland, but the founder of the company originally worked with Fender, giving it a Stratocaster feel with more bite (also, I got a MUCH better color).

I have been playing for about 5 years now, and picked up on the guitar pretty fast. I like to play pretty much any form of rock, and I am open to learning new things. Although I do know basic music theory, my knowledge on the subject is pretty limited and your better off finding someone else to help you in that area.

Currently, me and the 'ol guitar teacher are working on "Satch Boogie" by Joe Satriani:

May not be much to listen to, but it sure as hell is fun to play.

Helpfull Members

• Cursed Lemon
• iAMdela
• Sl1cK_
• cheezeNmayo

For the Complete Beginner

What you need - Electric

1. The guitar-

1. The cable -

1. The amp -

1. The pick -

What you need - Acoustic

1. The guitar -

1. The pick (optional) -

Getting started

1. Lessons

Whatever you do, I strongly recommened lessons. Many musicians are self taught, but all too often a guitar player will hit a "plateu" and find him or herself not improving. They lose interest in guitar and drop it. Lessons will keep you on your toes and you will be constantly learning new things. This will help keep the guitar fresh to you and inspire you to play.

2. The pick

For electric guitar players, the pick is essential. For aucustic, it is optionaly but often helps in playing chords and such. The pick should be held similar to a pencil. Your thumb on one side, and your index/middle finger an the other.



Their are many variaties of picks available, varying by size and thickness. Thin picks are very flexible, thick ones are rigid. I personally use rigid picks, because I find thin ones tend to flip out of your hand when picking hard.

3. The guitar

When becoming a guitar player, you are going to want to familiarize yourself with the guitar as much as possible. One important part of the guitar is the "frets"

The frets are located on the neck of the guitar. Each space between the small divider is one fret. Most electrics have around 22 frets, while acoustics may have up to 22 but the body cuts off the neck around 14.

To make a sound on a guitar besides hitting the open strings, you will need to press down on the fret, and pick the correalating string with your pick. To make the note sound properly, you must press firmly in the middle of the fret.

Also, when picking a string, you pluck it with the flat side of the pick. Do not flail your arm widly, but put strength into a short motion for proper picking. Also, the best sound generally results from picking in the middle between the bridge (where the strings begin) and where the neck ends.

Resources

Tablature

• www.ultimate-guitar.com - One of the best tablature sites out there. Keep in mind, the tabs are user submitted, meaning that they may not be 100% accurate. Check the ratings of the tabs before choosing one.

Gear

• www.musiciansfriend.com - My personal favorite product website. They have pretty much everything an aspiring musician needs. Great product reviews and prices make this site the first choice for many when choosing their gear online.

Teaching programs

• Guitar Pro 5.0 - really helpful tool for both beginners and the more experienced crowd. While old tab write ups merely show you the tabs, this program plays them as well. You can even create your own tabs on there. Great for learning unfamiliar songs.
• TuxGuitar -

  Originally Posted by cheezeNmayo

  I've just downloaded it real quick on my laptop to see how it was set up, and I think it's actually kinda cool. It has a very simple interface, so people who are new to these types of programs won't get confused. It's got a button that you can press that shows a fret board, and puts dots on where you need to put your fingers, so this would really help people with learning chords and certain riffs. I've read that It can open up Guitarpro tabs, but I havn't gotten it to work just yet :/ I don't have any audio, so I'm not sure how good the sound quality is...but I've read that it isn't too bad, but it's not great. I just thought that this would be something that beginners, or even more experienced players might want to mess around with.

(If you feel you should be added to the list, just say so)

Now let the discussion begin! Let's try to keep this thread going!

Alright, to give my guitar profile:

I started playing guitar this summer. I have a Squier Strat and a low end Ibanez acoustic guitar. As you can tell I haven't started playing guitar seriously yet, although I have mastered 3/4 of Purple Haze.

As far as my favorite guitarists go, I like Hendrix, SRV, Tom Morello, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Mick Ronson, Burnin' Vernon Reid, David Gilmour and Thurston Moore/Lee Ronaldo.

Lately I have been playing a lot of Flaming Lips songs on my acoustic guitar. I lost interest in Purple Haze, but I will probably finish learning the solo pretty soon.

I will try to be of help to people--I know music really well, and I have a basic knowledge of guitars and guitar playing techniques. I hope to learn more things through this thread though, I am always open to learning something new concerning music. I hope I can help you guys, and I hope you can help me.

Jackson RR1 : Standard : 9-46
Austin Era Flame Deluxe : D standard : 10-52
Schecter 007 Elite : Standard : 10-70
Schecter C4XXX : Standard : 50-105
Art & Lutherie 6-string : Standard : 11-52
Art & Lutherie 12-string : Open C : 10-52
Espana nylon string : Standard : F*ck if I know

Crate MX120R
Crate GLX65
Line 6 PODxt
Fruity Loops 4.1
Fruity Loops 7.x

I've been playing for almost 8 years, since my 13th Christmas/birthday. My favorite players are: Steve Vai, Randy Rhoads, Brian May, Jason Becker, Shawn Lane, Frank Gambale, Marty Friedman, Paul Gilbert, Brian Setzer, Al Di Meola, Tommy Emmanuel, etc.

http://www.soundclick.com/cursedlemon Some cover songs, mostly video game stuff, where I shred unnecessarily.

Aaand, a random video of me playing (you guessed it) a video game tune.

Since I'm at the dorms and we can't have amplified instruments, I don't really play my electric at all anymore, I just stick with my acoustic.

Originally Posted by Sl1cK_

Alright, to give my guitar profile:

I started playing guitar this summer. I have a Squier Strat and a low end Ibanez acoustic guitar. As you can tell I haven't started playing guitar seriously yet, although I have mastered 3/4 of Purple Haze.

As far as my favorite guitarists go, I like Hendrix, SRV, Tom Morello, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Mick Ronson, Burnin' Vernon Reid, David Gilmour and Thurston Moore/Lee Ronaldo.

Lately I have been playing a lot of Flaming Lips songs on my acoustic guitar. I lost interest in Purple Haze, but I will probably finish learning the solo pretty soon.

I will try to be of help to people--I know music really well, and I have a basic knowledge of guitars and guitar playing techniques. I hope to learn more things through this thread though, I am always open to learning something new concerning music. I hope I can help you guys, and I hope you can help me.

Ha ha, f..k yeah David Gilmour. I love his guitar playing.

And my first guitar was a starter Ibanez kit. I just brought it out the other day to let my 7 year-old brother try it on for size. I was surprised that it wasn't as bad as I remembered it to be, in fact it wasn't bad for a begining guitar at all.

And I know what you mean about losing interest, I do that all the time... but my guitar teacher helps me stick it through. Really, without lessons I would be to lazy and distracted to finish ANY song.

And I'll add you to the list. You seem to know what you're talking about ;]

Originally Posted by Cursed Lemon

Jackson RR1 : Standard : 9-46
Austin Era Flame Deluxe : D standard : 10-52
Schecter 007 Elite : Standard : 10-70
Schecter C4XXX : Standard : 50-105
Art & Lutherie 6-string : Standard : 11-52
Art & Lutherie 12-string : Open C : 10-52
Espana nylon string : Standard : F*ck if I know

Crate MX120R
Crate GLX65
Line 6 PODxt
Fruity Loops 4.1
Fruity Loops 7.x

I've been playing for almost 8 years, since my 13th Christmas/birthday. My favorite players are: Steve Vai, Randy Rhoads, Brian May, Jason Becker, Shawn Lane, Frank Gambale, Marty Friedman, Paul Gilbert, Brian Setzer, Al Di Meola, Tommy Emmanuel, etc.

http://www.soundclick.com/cursedlemon Some cover songs, mostly video game stuff, where I shred unnecessarily.

Aaand, a random video of me playing (you guessed it) a video game tune.

So I herd you liek Guitarz!

Originally Posted by Cursed Lemon

Line 6 PODxt

I REALLY want to pick up one those. The 'ol Guitar Port is good for basic recording, but the included GearBox amp models don't often cut it.

It really sucks to not be able to get enough sustain without making your guitar sound like you put it through a washing machine.

My first and only guitar


It's sweet, I know. It's too bad I blow though. Alliteration aside, I bought it like two months and started teaching myself Madhouse by Anthrax (Thank you Guitar Hero). I'm starting to practice more and I think I'll go on to become one of the greats Question though... from a practical sense, should i learns scales - n' sh.t or should i just practice the songs i want to learn?

Originally Posted by L0STBOY

Question though... from a practical sense, should i learns scales - n' sh.t or should i just practice the songs i want to learn?

You should do both. Scales will help you tremendously later on when you start developing your own songs, and improvising.

Every solo you have ever heard (well, most) is derived from one scale or another. Learning them will alow you to improvise or "freestlye" over some background music and lay down some sweet licks.

The most commen scale used for soloing is known as the "Pentatonic" scale. Here is how it looks:



That is the basic fingering of the scale. If you practice enough running up and down the scale, it will eventually become second nature, and you will be completing every solo by Metallica ever.

Also, the first note in the scale on the lower "E" string is the key of the scale. If you start on the 5th fret, your key is "A" and will work well over a chord progession following the "A" key.

Learning songs is also important. You can pick up new techniques by learning them, and of course, you can show off your latest to your friends.

Buttery. Thanks bro.