• cambo
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Just starting ..Help!!

Hey All,

  I'm fairly new to the guitar(I've been practicing about 16 of the basic chords). As far as technique and such,  I'm picking up a little here and there.  Could anyone tell me if I'm going in the right direction or suggest an outline to learning guitar.  I'm interested in learning everything correctly, reading music,etc... I'm exited to be able to play songs asap(like everyone I suppose),  but know I have to be patient.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I've just registered on the forum so I will look around the archives too.

        Thanks,  Cambo

  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2006-10-02
  • Posts: 230

Re: Just starting ..Help!!

hey just saw your message.  i know how you feel everythings either really dumb (amazing grace) or really hard (stairway to heaven) heres some of my 1st songs

let it be-Beatles

wish you were here-pink floyd

redemption song-Bob marley

good riddance-green day

knockin on heavens door-bob dylan

run around-blues traveler


those are just a few (i know their all "old"  but i like them cuz their easy, fun, and everyone has heard them at some point.)


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


P.S. reading music gets easier the more you practice, just remember rythm matters more than note perfection, and watch those pesky ledger lines!

If you spend your life judging people, how will you ever have time to love them ♥
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Just starting ..Help!!

Break your practice routines into three distinct parts.  Early on, focus on part one.  As you get better at each step, you can spend more time on the later steps.


One part should focus solely on building strength and dexterity.  Play scales and chord progressions until your hands cramp.  Rest a few minutes, and then play until your hands cramp again.  Repeat.


Part two should focus on learning the fretboard and music theory.  Find all the Cs on the board.  Play the major scales, and their relative minors.  Work all the various chord types for a given key (major, minor, M7, etc...) learn the circle of 5ths.  That kind of stuff will make playing songs a million times easier once your hands are in good shape.


Part three (and you may want to wait a while) is to play some songs.  Find a couple you like, and practice the crap out of them.


Do this every day.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • Registered: 2006-10-04
  • Posts: 1

Re: Just starting ..Help!!

I started Playing about 6 months ago. So i guess i am still sort of new to the guitar world!

My first two songs i learnt to play we're

1. Knocking on heavens door (Thats a easy song to play with only chords G, D, Am and C! )

2. Time of your life (thats okay its just a fast song. with Chords G , D , Em , Am , C )


Good luck with the Guitar playing!!

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

  • Registered: 2006-10-05
  • Posts: 2

Re: Just starting ..Help!!

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_twisted.gif" border=0 alt="Twisted Evil"> yo dude guitar is a wicked gift if used correctly try starting off with a little bit of stairway to heaven it has 13 chords to work with when u know tht song ull know those 134 chords meaning ull be able to play aropund with those chords in other songs,play as many diffrent songs as possible and ull pick it up fasdt keep using chordie i learnt how to play very well in 6 monthes

  • NTSxx
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-12-07
  • Posts: 5

Re: Just starting ..Help!!

I found a good way to get picking speed up is just to use the middle 2 stings (D and G) and on d, pick, up down, then on G down up and continue that. And always try to use alternate picking on whatever you play, i learnt most songs just picking down and i always do it now, so practise alternate picking, and to get speed up on alternate picking and placing fingers on the fret board. Start on the 5th fret of the bottom sting (E) and pcik twice on each fret, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th, and repeat it on all 6 stings, it really helps.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

Cheers and good luck.