1 Reply by Starsailor

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

ssttsstt wrote:

I am finding it very difficult to use finger picks.  do much better with my bare fingers, but loose some of the sound.  any suggestions?

Hi I don't get on with fingerpicks either so I have my nails a bit longer, this lifts the sound but you do need to look after them and it depends on the kind of work you do, you don't need to have them really long just enough to pick the string, if they're  too long they will snap. But if you can, give it a go, it's a personal choice though.

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2 Reply by Starsailor

(44 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Roger Guppy wrote:
Grimreefer wrote:

Sorry, but I have to disagree on the 'Tears in Heaven' bein' easy. You MUST play the bass notes (fingerpick) for this song to sound good. No dis intended, just a thought.

With respect, I have to completely dissagree with Grimreefer. All the best artists put their own stamp on a song and do not blindly try to copy the original.

Two songs that I thought could never be bettered were Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow" and Sting's "Fields Of Gold". Many artists tried and failed until along came the late Eva Cassidy whose interpration of these songs is very different and, in my opinion, far superior to the originals.

Roger

Thats true Roger Guppy, I heard a good version of Over The Rainbow by John Martyn a great guitarist who is sadly not mentioned much these days, and even Bob Dylan thought the Jimi Hendrix version of All Along The Watchtower was better than the original. That aside I think Grimreefer was a bit concerned that Tears In Heaven might be a bit of a stretch for someone starting out, so I think Grimreefer meant well.

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3 Reply by Starsailor

(44 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hi meggie,

My first song was Mull of Kyntyre, good one to learn, if you want a new song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol is good, another one I like is breakfast at Tiffanys by Deep blue Something, hope your enjoying your playing, oh one more This Land is your Land by Woody guthrie and if you want to have a go at fingerpicking try Dust in the wind by Kansas or Over the rainbow by Judy Garland. Thats it hope these help.

Go to forum: Acoustic

4 Reply by Starsailor

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hi stevenmc2,

CHUCKING - Playing relentless sixteenth or eighth notes with your right hand. Rythmic pattern is created by alternately muting the strings with the left hand and allowing chords or notes to sound.

Chucking is used in funk music, if you listen to bands like, Chic or Sister Sledge, you can here a lot of it. I got this definition off the net, I know these groups and listen to funk.
If your just beginning your moving up a gear might be worth getting a Metronome as you'll need to keep good time,Play the Chord on the way down and Mute the Chord on the up strum, don't know the song so don't know how often it does it.
Have bit of a practice, pick  some chords do some strumming up and down and throw in a chuck when you feel like, before you know it you'll be a Funkmeister. This is not a definitive answer just trying to point you in the right direction, don't know if you use other forums but check out Guitar for beginners and beyond you can google it, they've helped me a lot.

Good Luck

Chris

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5 Reply by Starsailor

(6 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

Thanks for replying and thanks for the advice and the links, I'll check them out.


Cheers


Chris

Go to forum: Other string instruments

6 Topic by Starsailor

(6 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

Hi all, I play a lot of fingerpicking on my guitar but I like Bluegrass so am learning flatpicking as well, I've decided to buy a Banjo, could anyone suggest the best banjo to start off with, I,ve seen a nice 5 string would that be ok for a beginner or should I stick with a six string or get a tenor banjo etc. Any advice will be appreciated.


Cheers


Chris

Go to forum: Other string instruments

7 Reply by Starsailor

(23 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I differentiate with people who ask about learning to play.  I ask "What do you want to do?  Do you want to play songs, or do you want to play the guitar?"

The difference is that the former will learn enough chords to play a few songs, and never learn anything else, while the latter will study their instrument, and therefore be able to play whatever they want.

I've always felt like practice was a pleasure, even if all I'm doing is running scales and other technical excercises.

[/quote]

Agree, it is fun finding out how much you can do with a Guitar.It is a struggle at first, I've been playing about a year and didn't make much progress at all in the first month. All the advice here is great, I practice every day and do warm ups playing and holding down strings up and down the fretboard, your left hand nails do have to be short or your right if your a left handed player. I'm currently practising fingerpicking which has improved my chord changing skills. It might be best to pick out a few 3 chord songs. The most important thing is to enjoy playing, there's no deadline on how quick you have to learn unless your in a hurry. Just try to improve gradually and don't beat yourself up if you can't get things right straight away.

Good Luck

Chris

Go to forum: Acoustic

8 Reply by Starsailor

(26 replies, posted in Electric)

My inspiration for playing was an old neighbour of mine called Jim, he was a retired forestry worker. He used sit in his flat most of the day playing the blues, he always had the door open so I could hear him playing, he gave me quite a few cds ie. Peter Green and the Splinter Group, Little Feat etc. He had a good collection of Guitars and when he left to go and live with his daughter in Hampshire he gave me a Yamaha 12 string as a present on the understanding I'd learn to play it. I've been learning for about a year now and mix practice with playing a few tunes I've learnt, I play every day, I even get up early to play Guitar before I go to work which puts me in a good frame of mind. I've got 3 Guitars now, they're only cheap ones but they play well, I'm building my own collection and am about to buy an electric guitar which should be fun.

So big thanks to Jim for inspiring me.


Hope everyones having fun


Chris

Go to forum: Electric

9 Reply by Starsailor

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

It's never too late to have a go at anything.I've been playing for about a year now and I'm 46, I've always loved music but never made the effort to play it, playing guitar well takes practice, I'm not great but I can play a few tunes, at the moment I'm learning to play Fingerstyle which is a new challenge for me, you can do quite a lot musically with a guitar so really you never stop learning, if you feel old at 34 I'm in trouble.

Enjoy your guitar playing and enjoy your life it's a gift.


Chris

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

10 Reply by Starsailor

(11 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hi cazador, try Hey Joe by Jimmy Hendrix, it's on Chordie try Hey Joe v10, it's an old one but Hendrix was an awesome guitarist, should keep you busy.

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11 Reply by Starsailor

(13 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hi jessieR, check out guitar people.com,there's some fingerstyle exercises and articles by William Bay (the son of Mel Bay) and loads of other teachers, I'm going to get some of the books oubass recommends he really knows his stuff. Good luck with your fingerpicking.

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12 Reply by Starsailor

(12 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hi, if you're just starting out go to your local music shop, they always have low priced guitars for novices, you can try some out or they'll play them for you, they'll give you advice if asked and they won't take you for a ride because they'll want you to buy accessories and more guitars from them when your an ace player. Good luck and enjoy your guitar playing.

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13 Topic by Starsailor

(0 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I've seen an Otwin Olymp semi-acoustic guitar circa 1950 on ebay, does anyone out there know about them and how they sound etc. The seller says the neck is straight and guitar is in good condition for it's age, is it worth taking a chance ?

Go to forum: Acoustic