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And of course I'm going to wade right in with my two cents worth, LOL!

The beginner packages can be a good start.  I would add that if you can possibly find one, get a beginner package featuring a guitar with a solid (not laminate) top.

As for chords and scales, as you learn chords, relate them to the scales you learn and be aware of the chord definitions, i.e. the recipe that makes up the chord.  Eventually, you should know how to construct and name chords.

As for picks, I agree that you should try a wide variety of shapes, materials and thicknesses.  If you're looking to play fast leads or bluegrass style flatpicking, you may find that you have better control with a heavy pick.  I like Clayton Golds, Dunlop Ultex, and Fender heavy picks.  But try a bunch and listen for the tone for which you're looking.

Never quit on a piece of music that you want to play.  If it seems too hard at first, refuse to surrender.  If you're stubborn enough, it will smooth out and what seems impossible will become possible.  Keep practicing.

Consciously prompt yourself to relax while you're playing.  Beginners tend to tense up and seem to be trying to wring the neck off the guitar and press their fingers through the fretboard.  If you can stay relaxed and only fret hard enough to get clean, ringing, sustained notes, you'll play faster than if you clamp down with a death-grip on the guitar.

And lastly, us geezers actually only rarely get in a huff, LOL!

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

<b>"hey mr moderator....can we send these two off somewhere by themselves?....."</b>

Now, now.  I really think you ought to take the time to actually read the posts in this thread before popping up and using the phrase "these two" and trying to set yourself up as duty stool pigeon to the moderators.  I certainly haven't been in any way unpleasant.  On the contrary, I've been a paragon of self control in the face of some very unfortunate outbursts of temper from bigdjindustriez.  My initial comments were made because I felt that some of what bigdjindustriez had to say might prove very discouraging to beginning guitarists, and objected to his characterizing some people as "idiots" for the way they've chosen to learn guitar, and as a public service to the beginners, corrected him.

Perhaps Mr. Moderator should send YOU off somewhere for calling for heads without reading the posts and knowing the situation first.  Here I try to influence someone to maintain a proper community spirit and not discourage others, demonstrating on my own part a genuinely benevolent community spirit toward my fellow forum members, and you're including me as a miscreant?  Not very sporting of you, I'm afraid.  Do you frequently pop up in forums and immediately start calling for moderator action without really having any grounds?  Now that's a particulalry malignant form of trolling.  You really shouldn't do that.

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

<i>My</i> facts <i>are</i> straight, DJ.  Martin NEVER had anything to do with Elixir.  But Elixir does buy their pre-coating strings from D'Addario.  You didn't read all my links, did you?

Get my head out of my what?  Now, now, that's actually a physical impossibility if you think about it.  You didn't pay attention when they covered anatomy in school, did you?

But that's OK, just cool down and take a few deep breaths.  It's all right to be wrong sometimes.  We're only human.  Heck, I'm even wrong once in awhile.  Not very often, but occasionally, LOL!

If you calm down and behave, maybe I'll give you a few pointers on the finer points of playing guitar, and a little guidance on choosing strings and instruments.  Could be very beneficial for you...

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">

<b>"yea I will be reccomding elixir forever, I have been on the websites of about 40 bands today and in the top corner they all say "this band(whatever the name is) uses Elixir Strings" So you obviously don't know what you are talking about. if you want to use stupid d'addario go right ahead, thats you problem. D'addario has nothing to do with Martin, and martin does make elixir strings, as it says right on the package "made by cf martin co." so get a life. thanks "</b>

Get a life?  LOL!  Ow, I'm mortally wounded!  Let's see, I've been to every continent except Antarctica, and lived for years in a number of other countries.  I retired forever when I was thirty-one.  Jeez, I never realized I needed a life!  Must have been too busy.

Now, getting back to Elixir strings, you might want to notify C.F. Martin & Company that W.L. Gore & Associates is infringing on their trademark if you're right.  This is right off the Elixir website:

<i>"Elixir® Strings are manufactured by W.L. Gore & Associates, the company widely known for such innovations as GORE-TEX® fabrics."</i>

Here's the link:

<a href="http://www.elixirstrings.com/whatsnew/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.elixirstrings.com/whatsnew/index.html</a>

You might find these discussions interesting as well:

<a href="http://jdbluesville.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7136&sid=125af417532af8d6633be740599bd138" target="_blank"> http://jdbluesville.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7136&sid=1 25af417532af8d6633be740599bd138</a>

<a href="http://p200.ezboard.com/What-do-you-think-of-Coated-Strings-Elixirs/facousticfingerstyleguitarfrm2.showMessage?topicID=5.topic" target="_blank"> http://p200.ezboard.com/What-do-you-think-of-Coated-Strings- Elixirs/facousticfingerstyleguitarfrm2.showMessage?topicID=5 .topic</a>

<b>"So you obviously don't know what you are talking about."</b>

I don't, eh?  LOL!  Yeah, OK, whatever you say.

<b>"if you want to use stupid d'addario go right ahead, thats you problem."</b>

Uh oh!  Looks like it's <i>your</i> problem too!  Enjoy those D'Addarios!  But really, being a longtime D'Addario user myself, three years is just waaay too long.  Three weeks is more like it.  You need to change your D'Addarios, bud!  Even if they are coated by W.L. Gore & Associates, LOL!

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_eek.gif" border=0 alt="Shocked">

<b>"OK now can one of you tell me, do I look for dvd's to teach me?"</b>

That's up to you, but if you do, I'd wait until I had some guitar mileage under my belt.  But try here if you're ready to go the DVD route:

<a href="http://www.homespuntapes.com/" target="_blank">http://www.homespuntapes.com/</a>

<b>"...or an instructor?"</b>

Hmmm.  You could try it.  But there's no reason you can't teach yourself.  Finding a genuinely GOOD one is tough.  And expensive.  But if you do find a good one, it'll be worthwhile.  It's a roll of the dice.  Invest a hundred bucks in an education.  You can teach yourself well with these books if you actually use them:

The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer  $17.13

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-Ralph-Denyer/dp/0679742751/sr=1-1/qid=1165686218/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=bo14.56+oks" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-R … /dp/067974 2751/sr=1-1/qid=1165686218/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie =UTF8&s=bo14.56+oks</a>

Guitar Chords & Scales, An Easy Reference for Acoustic or Electric Guitar from Hal Leonard Publishing  $5.95

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Chords-Scales-Reference-Acoustic/dp/063405273X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686274/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Chords-Sca … ce-Acousti c/dp/063405273X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686274/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200 -3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

Music Theory, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask by Tom Kolb  $12.21

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guitarists-Everything-Wanted/dp/063406651X/sr=11-1/qid=1165686317/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guit … ything-Wan ted/dp/063406651X/sr=11-1/qid=1165686317/ref=sr_11_1/102-096 1200-3158529</a>

The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking by Mark Hanson  $13.57

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Contemporary-Travis-Picking-Fingerpicking/dp/0936799005/sr=1-1/qid=1165686362/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Contemporary- … ing-Finger picking/dp/0936799005/sr=1-1/qid=1165686362/ref=sr_1_1/102-0 961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

The Art of Solo Fingerpicking, How To Play Alternating-Bass Fingerstyle Guitar Solos by Mark Hanson  $13.57

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Solo-Fingerpicking-Alternating-Bass-Fingerstyle/dp/093679903X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686406/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Solo-Fingerpi … nating-Bas s-Fingerstyle/dp/093679903X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686406/ref=sr_1_1 /102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

Flatpicking Guitar Essentials, Folk and Bluegrass, from Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons series  $14.56

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flatpicking-Essentials-Acoustic-Magazines-Private/dp/1890490075/sr=1-1/qid=1165686460/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Flatpicking-Essen … tic-Magazi nes-Private/dp/1890490075/sr=1-1/qid=1165686460/ref=pd_bbs_s r_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

The Flatpicker's Guide by Dan Crary  $19.95

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpickers-Guide/dp/1574240587/sr=11-1/qid=1165686507/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpic … dp/1574240 587/sr=11-1/qid=1165686507/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529</a>

<b>"...do I search google for chords or scales?"</b>

If you need to learn a chord in a hurry, look at chord charts.  But ideally, learn scales and build them yourself as needed.  Then you'll know WHY they are what they are.  All music starts with scales.

<b>"...what about the guitar, yahama or fender? or something else."</b>

Neither.  Look at the Seagull lineup for inexpensive, Guild GAD-series for medium, and Larrivee for high end.

<b>"...acustic or electric??"</b>

Acoustic is my choice for beginners, but you can start on electric, I did.  It depends on your own preferences and the type of music you want to play.  Or you could go acoustic-electric.  But if you do that, go with a true acoustic amp, not an electric guitar amp.

Anything else? LOL!

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

<b>"If you already have an acoustic guitar, Don't get an electric guitar (until you learn acoustic first) thats the best advice I can give you. Playing an electric guitar is easy, therefore if you learn on an electric and want to play an acoustic later, you won't be able to...not well anyways. Playing the acoustic will strengthen your fingers and give you the feel for the frets."</b>

I started playing in 1968 on a pre-CBS Fender Telecaster.  In the past three months, I've had people tell me that I'm "better than", let's see...Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, Merle Haggard, James Taylor, Waylon Jennings (that's probably because of my voice), et al.  Do I believe them for a minute?  No!  But apparently people think I play well enough, and feel some enthusiasm for my playing, and mostly what I play is acoustic (even on the Wes Montgomery stuff, I'm a heretic, I know).  I think you can start with either acoustic or electric, but be prepared for some awkwardness when you switch to the other.

<b>"DVD's are for idiots, remember that. If you tell someone you learned off of a dvd they will laugh in your face! you need to get yourself a chord chart listing all the major chords, get those learned and find your strumming rhythm. Nobody can teach you how to strum, thats something you figure out on your own. Once you have learned all major chords (except b, that is a jazz chord and isn't used very often, but you can learn it if you want) and can switch between chords quickly, you can start learning the minor chords and others, or some of them anyways. I Use Am, Bmaj7, D7, G7, Em, and others on a regular basis so thats important. When you can play a tune blindfolded, with your eyes closed or in the dark, you have learned how to play. Some people think doing that is hard or impossible, but if you can really play, it isn't even the slightest bit difficult."</b>

If you can learn comfortably from a DVD, and learn well, why not?  Anyone who would "laugh in your face" for learning from a DVD has got problems I can't help them with.  Never concern yourself with what the rest of the world thinks, as long as you know you're doing things right.  Play for yourself.

And chord charts?  Actually, chords are constructed from scales.  Get some scale charts.  In the end, there really isn't anything BUT scales.  Learn your scales and along the way, you'll figure out things like how to construct chords.

As for the importance of strumming, what if I want to play fingerstyle?  Get yourself a metronome, work on your rhythm, regardless of what technique you use.

As for chords, I'd have to debate you on a "B" chord being a jazz chord.  You should probably learn it.  And what the heck, learn all the derivatives, variations, and inversions while you're at it.  And learn the "B" scales, too.  And when you're done, work on A, C, D, E, F, and G, too.

<b>"Don't be cheap when buying your guitar, it will probably be with you your whole life, the best guitars in the world are made by Martin, Gretsch, Gallagher, Guild, Rickenbacker, Fender and Gibson. Martin does make some low(er) priced models for beginners, around 700-800 bucks US (I Know thats alot, but it's worth it."</b>

I find Martins consistently average.  Since 1968, I've never played one that made me say, "Wow!"  They're not bad guitars.  Just consistently <i>average</i>.  I have no desire for a Gretsch acoustic.  I would take one of their big electric rockabilly bombers, though.  Gallagher?  Hmmm.  Nice guitars, but rather brutally priced for beginners or anyone not fanatically committed to steel string guitar for life.

Now Guild I can agree on.  The new Guilds, whether USA-built or the cheaper imported GAD series, impress me very much!

Rickenbacher.  Do they make acoustics?  We are talking about acoustic playing, aren't we?  Hmmm.  I guess if you're a Beatles fan.

Fender.  I like their electrics.  For acoustics, I'd rather have their subsidiary, Guild.

Gibson?  Nice, but be careful.  Quality tends to vary widely.  Play lots of them, then pick THE one from the bunch you've played and inspected.

You didn't mention Taylors.  Taylors sound like someone throwing the silverware drawer down the basement steps to me.  But to each his own.  Some people go for that jangly sound I guess.

And let's not forget Larrivee.  Genuinely terrific guitars.  On par with or exceeding the excellent recent Tacoma-made Guilds.

As for Martin's 700-800 dollar offerings, I'll pass.  I'd rather drop that money on an all-solid-wood Guild GAD-series guitar.  Or maybe stretch up to a Larrivee at 800-900.  Martins in that price range are <i>usually</i> laminate.  Note that I italicized "usually".  Now and then you can find one in that range that's all solid woods.  If you can, try it and see if you like it.  In general, try to buy an acoustic guitar of all-solid-woods.  At the very least, get a solid top.  Don't accept anything that doesn't have a solid top.  And try to get bone nut and saddle.  Or at least Tusq.  Avoid plastic.  But you don't have to spend a fortune.  I own six guitars right now, and amongst the more expensive beauties, I have a Seagull S6+ Spruce, solid top, laminate back and sides, that I like very much.  Bought it as a beater to drag around.  It would make a great beginner's guitar.

<b>"When choosing your strings, I reccomend Elxir strings, thats all I use and ever will use. They are coated with some special coating that makes them last for years and years. I have had a set on my guitar for 3 years and they still sound like brand new, with awesome tone and sound quality. They will run you about 38 dollars, which is really worth it, because if you had to buy a regular set of strings every 2 months for 3 years, it would cost you quite a bit at around 10 dollars per pack. If you can't afford these then go with Martin phosphor bronze strings. And for electric go with Fender strings."</b>

There's not much that I dislike more than coated strings.  Right up there with broccoli slaw on my list of things I don't like.  But some people like broccoli slaw.  Try different strings and see what you like.  I tend to prefer D'Addario strings myself, but most brands are at least acceptable.  Experiment.

The only time I left strings on a guitar for 3-years was when I was wandering around Africa and couldn't get to a music store.  I don't care what they're coated with, you need to change your strings!  Think about wiping down your fretboard with some lemon oil while you're changing them.

<b>"If you want a cheap, yet great sounding guitar, Yamaha makes some nice guitars."</b>

Yamaha guitars suffer from the horrendously heavy finish with which they insist on coating them.  They're OK, but I've played solid-top, laminate-body guitars alongside an all-solid-wood Yamaha, and the solid-topped laminate guitars won.

<b>"Now back to playing...Don't start out trying to play that "heavy metal" crap, just try some easy folk tunes or old country tunes, which mainly consist of 3 chords, most songs consist of 3 major chords."</b>

Hmmm.  Most of the metal I've played over the years was pretty simplistic.  I think you can start with it if you really want to play that kind of music.  Just crank up the gain and hit those power chords.  I still play some Black Sabbath tunes on the rare occasions that I pick up an electric guitar.

<b>"Always strum up and down, unless you are playing a waltz which is where you hit the top string and do 2 down strums. This isn't used very often."</b>

This assumes that strumming is the only way to play.  Have a look at some of Mark Hanson's books over at Amazon.  Try the Travis Picking book.  As for the 3/4 time thing, I disagree.  Especially in country, it's used VERY often.  Get a metronome and work on your timing.  Playing along with CDs helps, too.  And even (gasp!) DVDs.

<b>"All songs have their own beat, and you need to find it on your own, that can't be taught."</b>

Although you could cheat and use a metronome.

<b>"If you don't have a chord chart just go to Google Image search and type in for example "D major guitar chord" or whatever chord you need. Thats what I do most of the time."</b>

That must wreak havoc with a stage show!  Chord charts are fine, but also study scales, and find out why that particular fingering makes that particular chord, and even learn to build chords from scratch yourself.  I realize that the standard reaction to telling people in a guitar forum to learn to read music and understand theory is for the person offering such advice to be immediately flame-broiled and told that they don't know what they're talking about, but, learn to read music and understand theory.  It's not hard.  You don't have to abandon tablature, you can still use that, too.  But if you're going to play, do yourself a favor and learn.  You'll be glad you did.

<b>"So I hope this helps all you beginners, if you need help with anything at all on the guitar you can send me an email at <a href="mailto:bigdjindustriez&#64;eastlink.ca" target="_blank">bigdjindustriez&#64;eastlink.ca</a> or go to my website at www.bigdjindustriez.tk Peace out"</b>

Your desire to help others is admirable, even if I don't agree with you on <i>some</i> things.  I think it's incumbent on those of us who have been around awhile to try to steer newcomers in the right direction.  And it's incumbent on you newcomers to learn, explore, and then show us geezers there's a better way.  You're never too old to learn, and that even includes me.  There's no such thing as "good enough" when it comes to playing guitar.  It's a lifelong learning experience.

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

An outside/inside pattern (I see I was calling it "inside/outside" above.  Wrong and confusing.  Must have been sniffing airplane glue that day, LOL!) will work with about anything in 4/4 common time.  The only one of those songs I play is occasionally "Over The Rainbow", and yes, it works with that.

Instead of playing Dm7 up in second position, try fretting it like this:

654321

EADGBe

XX0211

Over The Rainbow

C                  Em

Somewhere, over the rainbow,

F           C

Way up high;

F             C              Am

There&#8217;s a land that I heard of,

Dm7        G    C

Once in a lullaby.

                   Em

Somewhere, over the rainbow

F             C

Skies are blue.

F            C                      Am

And the dreams that you dare to

Dm7              G          C

Dream really do come true.

Someday I&#8217;ll wish upon a star

        F                                                     C

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

   F#dim

Away above the chimney tops,

           Dm7            G     

That&#8217;s where you&#8217;ll find me.

C                  Em

Somewhere, over the rainbow

F             C

Bluebirds fly.

F            C           Am

Birds fly over the rainbow,

Dm7              G             C

Why then, oh why can&#8217;t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly

Dm7

Beyond the rainbow,

F            G             C

Why, oh why can&#8217;t I?

You'll have to listen for the changes, I see the chords aren't holding their tab places in the post preview.  But it's easy to hear when to change.

You play an F#dim like this:

654321

EADGBe

XX1212

...and you'd pick it outside/inside, oicking it like everything else played that way, i.e., thumb plucks root note on fourth string, middle plucks treble note on first string, thumb plucks third string, index plucks second string.  Repeat, and so on.

I think you're going to find Mark Hanson's books to be just what you've been looking for.

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

LOL!  Well you have fun with that info and if you have any questions, post 'em and I'll try to answer 'em!

If you just keep repeating those picking instructions up there, it'll keep getting easier.  Start out with that D chord roll, inside/outside, thumb, middle, thumb, index like I explained above.  When that starts to smooth out, try switching back and forth between the D and G chord while picking.  You'll love Mark Hanson's book, he'll educate you very thoroughly on this sort of playing.  Those books you ordered are going to be a lot of fun for you.

Here's Mark's website:

<a href="http://www.accentonmusic.com/" target="_blank">http://www.accentonmusic.com/</a>

And if you want to do some flatpicking as well, here's Dan Crary's website:

<a href="http://www.dancrary.com/" target="_blank">http://www.dancrary.com/</a>

Dan's "Flatpicker's Guide" is my favorite flatpicking book.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpickers-Guide/dp/1574240587/sr=1-1/qid=1172278238/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3292697-3184861?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpic … dp/1574240 587/sr=1-1/qid=1172278238/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3292697-318486 1?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

I was disabled in-the-line-of duty in the U.S. armed forces and medically retired in 1991.  I happened to meet a beautiful young South African woman about seven years later and we hit it off.  About a week after she got back to South Africa, she phoned me here in the states and said, "You've been everyplace else in the world, won't you come and try my country for awhile?"  So I sold the house I owned at the time and two weeks later stepped off a plane in Johannesburg and was just about knocked over by an auburn-haired missile.  She was pretty happy I came over.  I stayed there five years, married her, and we've now got two kids and have moved back to the U.S.  She became a U.S. citizen awhile back.  What a sweet young thing like her sees in an old geezer like me I have no idea, but I'm glad she sees it, whatever it is, LOL!

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

If you're going to play country, you'll need it, and it can add a lot to other genres of music as well.  Anytime you can learn a new technique, grab it.  To hear some chicken pickin', listen to Jerry Reed, Danny Gatton, maybe some Brad Paisley.  Look for great guitarists who play country, and you'll get the idea.

Have a look at this book:

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Country-Guitar-Michael-Hawley/dp/063407640X/sr=1-3/qid=1172271766/ref=sr_1_3/002-3292697-3184861?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Red-Country-Guita … awley/dp/0 63407640X/sr=1-3/qid=1172271766/ref=sr_1_3/002-3292697-31848 61?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

Box of Rain fingerpicks very nicely.  You can use a plain old inside/outside picking pattern with your right hand.  For example, with a D chord, fretted like this as you look at the front of the fretboard:

654321

EADGBe

XX0232

You'd pluck the fourth string with the thumb of your right hand, then the first string with your middle finger, then the third string with your thumb, then the second string with your index finger.  Repeat.

With a G chord:

654321

EADGBe

320003

You'd pluck the sixth string with your thumb, the first string with your middle finger, the third string with your thumb, the second string with your index.

You can also alternate that first thumb pluck each time through between the sixth and fifth strings, and the treble string between the first fretted at third fret and an open second string.  Play around with it, adds variety.

The best transcription I've seen of Box of Rain is here:

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/boxofrai.htm" target="_blank">http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/boxofrai.htm</a>

If you need to see right where the changes are, grab the one here at chordie, too, but it isn't as accurate as the one I linked.

Chords used are fretted thus:

D  XX0232

Am  X02210

Em  022000

C  X32010

G  320003

A  X02220

Bm XX4432 (versus the full barre)

Asus4  X02230

I usually do a little intro with A and Asus4 before hitting the D in the initial melody.  Always remeber that sheet music is merely a suggestion.  Play it any way you feel works for you.  You can change keys, or use a capo, too.

You've got a pair of excellent guitars there.  I love an SG, and the GAD50E is a sweetheart of a guitar.  I own the Guild GAD-40C and the GAD-30 amongst the six guitars I own.  That GAD series is a lot of bang for the buck!

Here's some other links you might find useful starting out:

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.frets.com" target="_blank">http://www.frets.com</a>

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.stew-mac.com" target="_blank">http://www.stew-mac.com</a>

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.lmii.com" target="_blank">http://www.lmii.com</a>

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.musiciansfriend.com" target="_blank">http://www.musiciansfriend.com</a>

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.americanmusical.com" target="_blank">http://www.americanmusical.com</a>

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.music123.com" target="_blank">http://www.music123.com</a>

As for singing, your voice is an intrument.  Everbody can sing.  If that wasn't true, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson, amongst others, would not have had singing careers.  But you have to practice.  I play and sing everyday.  I also read aloud to my wife while she crochets.  That helps exercise the voice.  We're doing Stephen King's "The Stand" right now.  Full, uncut, expanded version.  So yes, you can sing.  You just need to practice.  I can't play the trumpet right now, but if I pick it up and practice in a logical manner, eventually, I'll be able to.  Same as singing.

Have a look here:

<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.homespuntapes.com/catagory/default.asp?catID=25&ctype=i" target="_blank">  http://www.homespuntapes.com/catagory/d … D=25&a mp;a mp;ctype=i</a>

As for lessons, I don't see the point in forcing someone to try to play in a way that hurts.  Classical guitarists tend to be uptight about form.  But a good teacher can hurry you along the way.  But I've never taken lessons.  You'll have to decide the right path for you.  I Taught myself to play, sing, read music, and understand theory with books.  I must have done OK, too, because as I got down from the stage in Pretoria, South Africa one night, after singing a number, some kid ran up to me all excited and told me he had all my albums at home.  I thanked him, but I didn't bother to tell him that I don't have any albums.  My wife and I still crack up over that one now and then...

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

I've been playing since 1968.  Based on that many years of experience, here's the books I'd recommend that you obtain and work through if you want to play fingerstyle:

Do this one FIRST, it'll have you amazing yourself in a very short amount of time...

The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking by Mark Hanson  $13.57

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Contemporary-Travis-Picking-Fingerpicking/dp/0936799005/sr=1-1/qid=1165686362/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Contemporary- … ing-Finger picking/dp/0936799005/sr=1-1/qid=1165686362/ref=sr_1_1/102-0 961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

If you still can't get enough of that funky stuff, do this one next...

The Art of Solo Fingerpicking, How To Play Alternating-Bass Fingerstyle Guitar Solos by Mark Hanson  $13.57

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Solo-Fingerpicking-Alternating-Bass-Fingerstyle/dp/093679903X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686406/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Solo-Fingerpi … nating-Bas s-Fingerstyle/dp/093679903X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686406/ref=sr_1_1 /102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

After that, you're sort of on your own.  But you finish that much and you'll be good!  After that, grab some Chet Atkins tablature, or Leo Kottke, et al.

For your fundamental overall guitar knowledge, get this book.  Every guitarist should own a copy.

The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer  $17.13

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-Ralph-Denyer/dp/0679742751/sr=1-1/qid=1165686218/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=bo14.56+oks" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-R … /dp/067974 2751/sr=1-1/qid=1165686218/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie =UTF8&s=bo14.56+oks</a>

This is a good first look at scales, and there really isn't anything BUT scales, once you understand the big picture:

Guitar Chords & Scales, An Easy Reference for Acoustic or Electric Guitar from Hal Leonard Publishing  $5.95

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Chords-Scales-Reference-Acoustic/dp/063405273X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686274/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Chords-Sca … ce-Acousti c/dp/063405273X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686274/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200 -3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

This will make theory understandable without much pain and also help train your ear:

Music Theory, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask by Tom Kolb  $12.21

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guitarists-Everything-Wanted/dp/063406651X/sr=11-1/qid=1165686317/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guit … ything-Wan ted/dp/063406651X/sr=11-1/qid=1165686317/ref=sr_11_1/102-096 1200-3158529</a>

And once you've got the fundamentals and the fingerstyle stuff under your belt, you might want to have a go at flatpicking as well, just to be well rounded.  Flatpicking entails everything from Django to Yngwie:

Flatpicking Guitar Essentials, Folk and Bluegrass, from Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons series  $14.56

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flatpicking-Essentials-Acoustic-Magazines-Private/dp/1890490075/sr=1-1/qid=1165686460/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Flatpicking-Essen … tic-Magazi nes-Private/dp/1890490075/sr=1-1/qid=1165686460/ref=pd_bbs_s r_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>

This is the grail when it comes to flatpicking books.  Crary is not only a terrific guitarist but also a natural teacher...

The Flatpicker's Guide by Dan Crary  $19.95

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpickers-Guide/dp/1574240587/sr=11-1/qid=1165686507/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpic … dp/1574240 587/sr=11-1/qid=1165686507/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529</a>

Those are the seven best books I know.  For about a hundred bucks, you've got the foundation of being a genuinely great guitarist, if you bother to work through the material.  Even if you don't like the particular styles of music represented in those books, they'll still give you the skills and background to take off in any direction you want to go.

Keep playing, never stop learning, push yourself past your limits.

Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

Well, if my wife ever buys the DVD camcorder she's always wanting, maybe I'll check and see how hard a video would be to produce and post.  But don't get your hopes up.  I'm lucky I can deal with the effects loop on my amp when I play electric!  That's what happens when you get old, LOL!

Meantime, though, check out some of the music videos by guitar greats on youtube.com.  They've got pretty much anything you'd want.  Here's a song I like to play sometimes, and you can see what Harry's doing pretty well in this video if you want to look up the transcription here at chordie and work at it.  Or search up something else you like at youtube.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FOKuXLxCwo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FOKuXLxCwo</a>

Oubaas