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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Posts by Oldnewbie
I love Em because it reminds me of a trainyard, or a jailhouse, or some impending trouble... (something visceral like that).
I also like C7, because it makes me want to pay attention to what is coming next, it kind of pushes things forward.
I also like your assesment of Cmaj7, TD.
Phill,
I don't think you could blame it all on that! 
Write one that doesn't sound stupid to you, then play the snot out of it.
Who cares what the world thinks.
...start with knockin on heavens door...
Excellent song to start with.
Also, The Picture (Kid Rock and Sheryl Crowe) is just G, C, D, and Em. Not too dificult, and a pretty good song.
Another great addition!
Keep 'em comin' James!
I love some of these stories. I guess first loves last forever!
My fiance gave me an inexpensive nylon-stringed classical guitar 17 or 18 years ago (I think it was from the JC Penny catalog, or is that catalogue?). I learned "Red River Valley" on it, and thought it sounded like a toy.
In my infinite wisdom, I decided what I needed was a good set of steel strings.
Two weeks later I couldn't get it to stay in tune, and, while playing "Tom Dooley", the bridge ripped itself from the laminate top.
I didn't play again for nearly 15 years, when the same woman (now my wife) gave me a Jasmine for my birthday. Not a Martin, or a Taylor, but a really nice instrument which I have been playing now for a little over two years.
um...
I had a pet frog once, but I never tried the straw trick.
You feelin' okay, Doc?
Some of my firsts:
Bad Moon Rising - CCR
He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
Little Pink Houses - John Cougar (Mellancamp?)
Turn The Page - Bob Seger
Elvis
Aaron
Died
Good
Bye
Elvis
Hey, Boxer.
I have just met you, and I really stepped in it.
I am sorry to have been so intrusive.
I am really glad to see you are back.
Nice, Jets!
The hits just keep on coming!
well done.
One of their Silly Songs With Larry is done by a group called New Kidz In the Sink...
That really is funny. There were a couple of boy bands that my daughter liked (New Kids in the Hood? and Insink?) and I could never get their names right, so I just call any boy band "New Kids in the Sink". I had no idea it was from the veggies. Maybe I have more in common with Larry the Cucumber than I think? 
I've got to check these guys out, now.
...see what you've done.
I think if someone really devotes themselves to learning to play, they can work past the sound of a cheap guitar and just do the best you can with what you have.
That is kind of my point, last rebel.
I think that it is more a matter of "investment" than in the actual cost of the guitar.
If someone making $20,000 per year buys a $100 guitar, are they more or less likely to stick with it and become a better player than someone who makes $200,000 per year who buys a $2000 model?
I tend to think that the level of seriousness can be somewhat measured by the percentage of income invested, but seriousness does not equal discipline.
We all know people who were committed, in their heart and to the bone, to playing the guitar, but couldn't get past the sore fingers, and the frustration of learning the first few chords.
Again, I really think it has MUCH more to do with the quality of the person than the quality of the instrument.
Maybe your observation, phil, means that those who are serious enough to buy a more expensive instrument are more likely to stick with it than the person who buys an inexpensive one, thinking "If I don't stick with it, I won't be out much" (already planning on failure when the purchase is made)? I truly think the motivation of a new guitar happens before the purchase, as opposed to after.
I don't recommend it.
The B chord I mean. You should definitely crap.
Certainly sounds less messy than the B chord...
Thanks for the advice, Zurf!
(I'll let you know how it comes out.)
Athens, Ohio
Athens?
You probably know where Logan is, then?
That's where I grew up!
Ohio rocks.
Strat,
It takes someone not born here to remind me of how fortunate I am to be from and of this country.
My guitar mentor, and a very strong figure in my life, particularly when measured against the length of time I knew him, was a German citizen visiting here on a tourist visa. He married an American and they moved back to Germany (funny, huh?). His fascination with America was, as you mentioned, the diversity, and the geography.
I also feel that it is our geography that makes us so loathe to change. I will explain:
In Europe, if you drive for eight hours in one direction, you have crossed into several different countries, where several different languages are spoken, and where several different forms of currency are used (less common now, I think, with the Euro?). But different cultures and predominant religions are a matter of hours away by car for most Europeans.
In the US, I drive 8 hours to see my parents. I could drive for days (literally) and never have to use a translator, or exchange my money. While I would see different variations of our culture, the people are generally of the same ilk. Much less drastic of a difference between Californians and Virginians than there is between Spaniards and Russians. (does that make sense?)
This geographic isolation is what contributes to my opinion that there will never be a universal language, except for English. Based on how we live, we see no need to learn another language!
Again, I think one of our strongest assets is simply our geography.
Great thread.
geoaguiar,
I think you are right. We are middle aged. Good God. Thanks for reminding us all! 
I think, though, more to 'phil's question of whether a good guitar will or won't make a difference to a beginner, it really depends on the type of person, and their seriousness of commitment. I think there is validity that buying an expensive guitar will make you more likely to play it longer, if the money invested was a significant percentage of your income. If an inexpensive guitar is the same percentage of your income, then your perceived investment is equal, which, I think, is more important.
As far as whether the person will play longer because it sounds better, I am not convinced. I don't think it matters how good the guitar is capable of sounding, it is going to sound like crap for at least a few months, or more. While the new player is still in the initial pain and frustration stage is when the decision to play or not to play is usually made. I think this has much more to do with the quality of the person than the quality of the box.
CONCLUSION: HAVING A MORE EXPENSIVE GUITAR PRODUCING A GREAT TONE, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRESUMED.
About this statement, the argument could be made that someone who has been successful enough in life to have the means to afford an expensive guitar to start with has the qualities necessary to stick with it and learn the guitar, although I don't think those two necessarily go hand-in-hand.
I still contend that it has MUCH more to do with the musician than the instrument.
Add that with geoaguiar's input, and you almost get a nickle! 
I have played a couple. Never thought about buying one for the reasons TwangTown mentions: Not good for a huge variety of songs.
When I become independently wealthy and have a good collection of six-strings, I may get a 12 string, though, just to play "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" good and proper!
To each his own. Enjoy!
And, BTW - good luck with the whole "understanding our system" thing.
There are folks with Doctorates in our system, and they can't even agree on how it works!
First, nicely done, Tennessee Strat. Only exception, is that it was King George in England, not a Queen at that time. And, as you eluded to, I credit much of the success of America to geography, and some ruthlessness.
gitaardocphil,
I don't know where to start with your questions, so I will take the easy one. You asked about the influence of bands and the elections (whether the bands will benefit or not from aligning with a particular candidate).
I don't think aligning with a candidate is as impactful on the band as it is on the candidate. Any candidate who can get the support of a popular band will instantly become "cooler" and more "in touch" with the people. They will also get a lot of free publicity. The band benefits either way, (any publicity is good publicity!) and, as is becoming very vogue here in the US, the band gets to promote their ideology.
The unfortunate thing about our political system is that, while we say that anyone can become president, the truth is that anyone who can afford to run a successful campaign can become president.
No matter what side of the political line they are on (Democrat or Republican), it takes tons of money to successfully run for president. The problem with that is, when you get to the White House, you turn around and see behind you an ocean of people with their hands out waiting to be "compensated" for their contributions.
Compensation comes in the form of passing legislation that your supporters are in favor of, and appointing people to cabinet positions. So, typically, no matter the integrity or best intentions of the candidate, by the time they get elected, they are no longer their own person (if they ever were to begin with). Unless, of course, they are independently wealthy, and refuse contributions to their campaign. Most people in that position would have to take a pay cut to be president, and don't want the position.
And, for the record, I truly believe that, Democrat, Republican, or Independent, the vast majority of serious candidates are, in their hearts, patriots. I don't believe that any of them seek election with the intention of "screwing everything up". I don't believe that any of them want to see the US fall into fascism or social collapse. I don't believe any of them would "start" a war just to line their pockets. I truly believe they all are trying to do what they think is the right thing. I may not agree with their approaches, but I certainly respect and admire their conviction, their patriotism, and their work ethic.
Just my 2-cents.
I have plastered my guitar case with stickers.
Gets it out of my system, and doesn't clutter up my guitar.
yeah, you really need to clean them well before you cook them.
(there is a reason they smell like an outhouse!)
Put the smell of them cooking, along with some collard greens, and you'll think you're in hog heaven (quite literally!)
Man! that sounds great!
I might have to check that out.
I didn't realize craigslist had a section like that. I just thought it was like e-bay.
Great feedback. Let me know how the next session goes!
Don't know what type of stuff you like, but I know that it was important to me to be able to play a song fairly quickly. Learning a song gave me motivation to keep practicing.
A lot of country stuff (especially older stuff like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams) is pretty simple.
Ring of Fire is three chords (G,C, & D).
A lot of CCR stuff is fairly simple (Down on the Corner, Bad Moon Rising, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, etc...)
You can play Sweet Home Alabama with D, C, and G.
just find something, and stick to it.
and just play.
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Posts by Oldnewbie
