This is a really good site and one to watch as it gets bigger, Thanks for sharing it with everyone. Was a bit disappointed that he/she felt the need to include a Political rant about the middle east, my guitar time is my leisure time and I dont need that. Having said that tho' it is a great site.
2 2007-04-08 13:15:49
Topic: Some Days you just gotta walk away... (2 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Although I am only a beginner with this guitar yesterday I had a really great practice session, I played all of my excercises with precision and finished up with a nice, albeit simple, piece of music by Bach. Oh yes, I could have auditioned for the London Symphony yesterday <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool"> .
So why today did my left hand fingers definately dance to thier own tune, my right hand just not find any position at all and I couldn't play anything (even from the front of the book) at all ?
My daughter who plays clarinet is visiting today and she smiled and said "Dad, some days you just gotta walk away, it happens to everyone....music block"
Oh well....tomorrow is another day. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cry.gif" border=0 alt="Crying or Very Sad">
3 2007-04-07 13:02:42
Re: Advice on Chords for Classical Guitar (3 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Thanks that would be really great. There must be lots of tricks of the trade not covered in books but after splashing out on a decent guitar and my books I can't really afford a person to teach me as well just yet.
4 2007-04-07 11:26:07
Topic: Advice on Chords for Classical Guitar (3 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I am teaching myself Classical Guitar from a book and I'm doing well at reading music, but playing the pieces which are all in first position at this time it seems that you have to chase notes all around the frets instead of fingering chord patterns.
When they talk about chords they just say a chord is a collection of notes played simultaneously, but there are no chords like I am used to playing.
Do classical musicians use chords like Am... or G7 etc or is it a different technique ? Sorry if I sound like an idiot but I have never tried to read music before. I have to say tho' that I'm having real fun learning. The guitar makes a better noise than my voice as well .. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing"> Also it's nice to pick up a song book and be able to play songs you don't know.
5 2007-04-01 14:28:54
Topic: Classical guitar (3 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Could any classical guitarists on here tell me if it is possible to teach yourself classical guitar to a good standard or is it better to go to a tutor.
I am using what I think is a really good book "The complete Classical guitarist" by Jerry Willard which comes with a cd and free pc downloads for extra tuition and excercises, which I am getting on well with so far but it is very much early days.
My classical guitar is a Tanglewood Tsc 110 which I find really nice to play.
I have been told that tutors are expensive and anyway the stuff you are given you learn mostly at home on your own, I just don't want to give someone lots of money just to be teaching myself anyway, what are your experiences of having a tutor, or just yourself ?
6 2007-03-20 16:40:09
Re: where is everybody from? (242 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I'm from Peterborough in England,Been playing for about 18 months now and I love it.
7 2007-03-20 10:47:19
Re: What type of guitar is good for beginners? Clasical or acoustic? (6 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Hi, just to add a little bit to what's been said, I think it depends on what kind of music you want to play and therefore what sound you are after. I have heard beautiful classical stuff played on a steel string accoustic but maybe it would be difficult to get a good country or "pop" sound on a nylon strung classical guitar.
Fingering is probably easier on a classical guitar but then I am a pretty big guy physically and have large fingers but I can play my accoustic ok. Look at the likes of BB King for big fingers and then listen to him play.. Hope this helps.
8 2007-03-17 09:24:09
Topic: Pick trouble....... (19 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Hi, This may seem daft but I just cannot strum with a pick without it turning around or coming away from my hand completely and flipping onto the floor. I don't know if it's the actual grip I use, taken from several guitar books or the motion of my strumming
It has been a real problem since day one, the dog even now waits for dad to flip the funny little frisbee so he can catch it.
Can someone help before I have to make a paving slab sized pick or pay the vet to retrieve it from the dogs' throat <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_confused.gif" border=0 alt="Confused">
9 2007-03-13 08:14:19
Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30? (17 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Hi, well I started learning 18 months ago at the ripe old age of 45 and I for one haven't looked back. I have always loved the sound of the accoustic guitar and I don't think the capacity to learn declines so much after 30, sure there is a lot to learn and I will never know it all but who does ?
OK 18 months ago people were asking me to take it to another room ( or planet preferably ) but now My Mrs sings along with me and I am confident enough to play stuff in front of family and friends, and believe me my lot would say if it was total rubbish, and have done. It's the old saying "never too late". I read last week about a 101 yr old man who has started to learn keyboard. He says it brngs him a great deal of pleasure and it's fun, and that's what it's all about really isn't it ?
10 2007-03-11 08:28:43
Re: Upgrading to a different guitar.. (13 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Thanks everyone. The advice is really appreciated. The Guild guitars look really good.
11 2007-03-09 16:39:49
Topic: Upgrading to a different guitar.. (13 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Hi, I have been playing my accoustic guitar for about 18 months now, it is a very much bottom end of the market Fender. When I first decided to have a go at learning guitar I didn't want to spend too much in case I didn't take to it. Now this far on I love it but I am struggling with some stuff, mainly Barre chords which I can finger ok but mostly need the vulcan death hold to get a good sound and it hurts. I have a guitar dvd on which it says really you get what you pay for with guitars. I was thinking of a Tanglewood TW 1000 SR which I held in the music shop but as all eyes turned to me for some reason I bottled out of playing it ( wimp I know). The Tanglewood has a very hefty price to it tho' and I wondered if anyone can suggest a really good accoustic and is it better to buy the electric kind.