101 Topic by crevs.1972

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hi all,

I haven't posted for a while but I have been reading the forum and practicing as much as ever.  There’s been quite a lot going on in my life over the past 4 weeks, I retired from bicycle racing in April and after the summer off to reflect I decided once and for all that I have made the right decision, so I’ve been ebaying all my gear.  It’s surprising how much time and effort it takes.  On top of that I purchased a motorbike as I couldn’t entirely give up 2 wheels!

Anyway, my music also underwent a bit of a transition, since I started in January I’ve been playing the usual stuff that most beginners play, the stuff that makes up 90% of the beginners song books on here.  However I sort of moved to more updated and modern songs, playing any chart song or tune that took my fancy, it didn’t have to be “guitar† music just anything that had energy and a good melody.  Over the years I've been concious that my music taste has been "tunnel visioned", tending to only listen to guitar based music.  But I was thinking, now that I can play the guitar, any music can be guitar music can't it.. so I've opened up a little?  I’ve even had a go at transcribing a few songs for which I can’t get the chords for.   

I’m really happy with how it’s going and my family seem to be more tolerant of the new music choice, don’t get me wrong, I love Neil Young, The Beatles etc but my family don’t!

The only downside is that I sort of had to take a step backwards which is frustrating because of the new songs, a few new chords, new patterns and I’m still not really happy with my playing but then I never will be.

Hopefully I can get some new stuff on my youtube channel soon?

Go to forum: Acoustic

102 Reply by crevs.1972

(21 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Keep experimenting with a capo, most of my songs are in the key G and this is too low for me so when I sing a song in G I need a capo on the 1st to 3rd fret.

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103 Topic by crevs.1972

(4 replies, posted in Electric)

Hello,

Pretty simple question, I’m beginner and mostly use an acoustic and play a fair few songs just strumming with a perhaps a few small licks or very easy intro.  I have a Squier Fender and I’m now going to start practicing solos as I’m keen to try and get this up on par with strumming and perhaps I can move onto some harder songs or make the songs I currently play better.

I’ve been practicing my minor pentatonic scales all up the neck and can move reasonable quickly perhaps fluffing just a few notes but my question is – Is it better to just play a few backing tracks and learn to improvise solo’s or is it more beneficial to actually learn actual songs or tab?

Cheers
Crevs

Go to forum: Electric

104 Reply by crevs.1972

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Nicky Wire - Manic Street Preachers
Kurt Cobain - Nirvana
Elvis
Just to name a few more.  It's the same with sports stars, some of the best were all barking mad. 
I think it's because it takes a certain type of mindset to be successful in certain things.  All seem vunerable perhaps??

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105 Reply by crevs.1972

(21 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Regardless of how good you feel now, just take it easy for a bit! 

Try and get the sympathy vote from your better half and she may pop down that shop and pick up the 12 string you've been wanting for ages ;?)

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106 Reply by crevs.1972

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

bensonp wrote:

topdown is correct.  Get the feeling of the song and strum any pattern that sounds good to you.  You patterns will change and you will get better with practice.

I totally agree, if you know the song well it really helps with the strumming, just go with feel!

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107 Reply by crevs.1972

(111 replies, posted in Acoustic)

37 years young, playing 8 months, male, from Wales - the land of song! haha

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108 Topic by crevs.1972

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I've been using Martin Lights because thats what the guy in the shop recommended the first time I bought some (I did try the Elixr Nanoweb but I didn't like the greasy feel to them).

Anyway, what are the pro's and con's of extra light, light or medium?  I'm a pretty light strummer, I tend not to pick that much, I just like a warm clear tone.

I'm happy with the Martins it's just the gauge I'm curious about!

Cheers

PS I have a Epiphone EJ 200 if thats relevant

Go to forum: Acoustic

109 Reply by crevs.1972

(33 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I do the cheat F if I'm playing a song which requires a C to F in quick succession like Sloop John B.  I just stay away from B's period!

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110 Reply by crevs.1972

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Guitarpix wrote:

..The good news is that with a repared back crack there will be no loss of tone.... -Pix

Sorry to lower the tone of the thread but that really made me giggle...I really need to grow up...I'll get my coat!

Go to forum: Acoustic

111 Reply by crevs.1972

(28 replies, posted in Acoustic)

RestlessSpirit wrote:

It's a bit cheeky for me to be posting in this topic which already contains a lot of good advice, as I've yet to develop any repertoire.  Learning words is something I've not done since school - a very long time ago - so it's a new challenge for me,  but I do have some thoughts for what they're worth.

Definitely your habits when you practise will impact on how and what you remember and repeat later.

The more something means to me, the easier it is to remember, so I look for meaning, picture and pattern in the flow.

I find that to remember words, I apply a similar technique to the one I use for remembering music - firstly, watching my left hand means I have to remember what to play.  I do it a phrase at a time, and the length of the phrase is determined by what I can remember/play.  If it's too long then I end up depending on the tabs/words being there.  If I have a problem joining the phrases, I'll practise around the connection, until I know the direction.  To avoid repeating hesitations and mistakes, I slow it down and maybe remove the rhythm to give myself time to think about just one thing at a time. 

The method I follow is to be patient and give myself as much time as I need, to be determined and focused.  It takes as long as it takes, and I find I can't multitask - I don't think I can try to remember lyrics whilst driving though that might be a good time to listen to or sing along to a recording.

I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone, I've been told I'm rather obsessive in my approach, so I guess I do need to try other ways too.  I only picked up my guitar a couple of months back after decades of looking at it, so I'm very open to comments!

Hello mate,

Not cheeky in the slightest, top advice!

Cheers

Go to forum: Acoustic

112 Reply by crevs.1972

(28 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Personally I don't think it's a problem reading from sheets, as mentioned by Bensonp, it appears acceptable for other musicians.  When I eventually pluck up the courage to play to family and friends I'd think they'd appreciate it more if I discreetly read the song from my book rather than fluff up the chords or even worse forget a song half was through.

I think it would take some of the fear away too, for me the nerves would come from fear of failure rather than performing, so having my book there open discreetly to the side would act as a security blanket!

Anyway, when asked by a person "What can you play?" I think they'd appreciate a few quick licks or a few well known riffs rather than me start to play Breakfast in America!

Go to forum: Acoustic

113 Reply by crevs.1972

(28 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I've been thiniking of putting some "que stickers" on the top edge of my guitar with some chord progressions so at least I'll have a little help or is this still relying on notes too much?

Anyone else do this?

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114 Reply by crevs.1972

(28 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Sorry to resurrect an old topic but I guess it’s better and starting another identical one,   I was going to post a topic along these lines anyway.  Basically all the songs I play are copied out into a notebook, I often find my chord changes are in slightly different places to the actual printout and additionally I sometimes leave chords out on harder to play songs.  Basically I like to personalise it.

Anyway, I maxed out my first book sometime ago and I’m well into my second, somewhere in the region of 130 songs which I can play reasonably ok.  My problem is there are probably only 1 or 2 I can play from memory and I wouldn’t be confident at playing them without a hitch.  I think it’s been mentioned above and that I think I’ve become lazy and it’s too easy to pull out my “book† and play away.

I’ve now concluded that I really have to start memorising a few songs and I have added a section to my practice sessions for this.  I have picked about 6 songs, some new, some old  all of which I enjoy to play but I’m concerned that if I play these to death I’ll get bored of playing them?

Is it a case that most of the songs you can play from memory soon become a nightmare to play due to boredom?

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115 Reply by crevs.1972

(21 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Thanks for your compliments.

The thing is Bimmam I set up an anonymous youtube profile, none of my friends or family know about it, that way I get to avoid all the wind up's.  I dread to think what would happen if my work colleagues ever got hold of it!  You see, my problem is I'm a bit of a wind up merchant too so friends and colleagues wouldn't miss a trick in getting me back!

Zurf, the only problem I see with your "you drunker you get, the better I play" philosophy is that my will power isn't very good.  If the beers are being cracked open I wouldn't be able to resist and no matter how drunk my friends are, I don't think they'll cope with me singing and playing after a six pack..or two!

Go to forum: Acoustic

116 Reply by crevs.1972

(21 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hello Bimmam,

We've been learning about the same time and like me I have never sung before let alone had a lesson.

I have some songs on Youtube, have a listen, I'm not particulalry any good but all I ever want to do is have a singalong in a BBQ with family and friends anyway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek0NCWYmBZQ

The best thing I did to help was experiment with a capo.  I read up on different keys and what chords make up certain keys.  I find most of my songs are in G and I need a capo on either 1,2 or 3 frett to sing G ok.  If I don't use a capo my key wanders all over the place, much to the ammusement of my wife and kids!

Go to forum: Acoustic

117 Reply by crevs.1972

(29 replies, posted in Acoustic)

When I bought my first guitar the guy in the shop said I would be better off spending a few hundred ££ as the benefit of a more expensive guitar would be immense.  I fully accepted this but my argument was I didn't want to spend several hundred ££ only to get fed up after a few weeks.  He did me a deal on an older stock version from £120 to £60 (I don't for one minute think it was ever for sale foir £120 tho).

Anyway after a while I lowered the action, got some Martin Lights and I really enjoyed playing it.  It was only as my chord shapes became better and clearer that I could hear how bad the sound actually was. 

Anyway after 7 months of between 1-2 hours a day I got a Epiphone EJ 200 last week!  All I can say is SWEET, I love it, easier to play and the sound is..!

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118 Topic by crevs.1972

(1 replies, posted in Song requests)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd9DrdltJxg

One of the best songs I've heard for years!  I think its Am, Em, C, G ??

I can't seem to the get the chords or Tab anywhere??

Go to forum: Song requests

119 Reply by crevs.1972

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

phew!

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120 Reply by crevs.1972

(17 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Natural, I didn't even see the sunburst, I was in leeeerve!

I've made a few adjustments to get the action down, I'm a bench joiner and cabinet maker by trade so I now how to adjust timber.  It's now even better!

Go to forum: Acoustic

121 Reply by crevs.1972

(17 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hello dfoskey,
It's not electric/acoustic, just acoustic.
Cheers
Crevs

Go to forum: Acoustic

122 Reply by crevs.1972

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I can fully second Justinguitar.com, in the time I've been learning I have never seen a bad word written about the guy or his methods.  Take some time to look over his sight and start at the begginers course and you'll be fine.

He is a really infectious, likeable bloke that seems to go at just the right speed!   

Check him out!

Go to forum: Acoustic

123 Reply by crevs.1972

(17 replies, posted in Acoustic)

It was 50/50 whether I pulled a day's leave today to stay at home and play it all day but 'er in doors put her foot down, you see she works from home and she didn't want me "twanging" all day in her earshot! 

"Twanging", she must be deaf!

Go to forum: Acoustic

124 Reply by crevs.1972

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

My advice will be to only learn songs you know very well, songs you have listened to for years and songs you know the melody and words to intimately.  That way when you learn the chords and riffs you don't have to worry about the melody and lyrics.  Also I think the strumming comes easier if you know the song well as you get the feel for it easier.

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125 Reply by crevs.1972

(17 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Cheers, I've got it home and I have to say, my smile just gets wider and wider!  The more I play the more sounds and tones I can hear. It took about 20 mins to get used to but it feels like I've been playing it for ages. It just seems tighter, richer, deeper, heavier...than my old one!

Very, very happy (typed with a smile!)

Go to forum: Acoustic