Tips for a novice

hey

glad to hear your coming along well

um.....

id start by saying always play at an angle, keep your fingers angled toward the bridge. trust me that makes a world of difference.

for anymore tips we need to know more about you. are you interested in playing lead.

ok another thing i thought of

when just screwing around dont always use the same strumming/picking pattern.

Thanks for the advice.   <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Samlon wrote on Sun, 16 July 2006 18&#58;24</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I started playing about 6 mos ago with a friend of mine.  I practiced, he didn't.  We're miles apart now.  It makes all the difference.  Even when you don't think you're improving, you are.

Enjoy

-s-
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correct!

My friend started playing the guitar three months before i joined.

He never tries something new, like hard rock, instead of the sick pop guitar thing. I've played for 4-5 years now, and i cought up whit him after only a month! I'm proud <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile"> hehe.

I got some tips for you;

Always tap whit your fot while practising. This is for improving your timing. Timing is the MOST importent thing if you want to show off <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>spaminator wrote on Sat, 22 July 2006 20&#58;19</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
always play with a metranome
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Use your foot!!!

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

One things for sure, I'm pretty certain my foot can't keep time. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

The thing is, as soon as I try to introduce my foot to help keep time my actual strumming gets shot to pieces, I guess I need to refer to the posts above...I.E 'keep practising'.

Thanks for the advice folks, it's nice too know I can come here for some tips etc. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>bud_wiser wrote on Wed, 02 August 2006 20&#58;48</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Practice is definitely vital.

I've only been playing for about 7/8 months now but I've been playing just about every night for anything from 30 mins to 6 hours depending on just how sad and desolate my social calendar happens to be at the particular time. As a result of this constant practice my friends and family cannot believe how much I've improved although there's obviously a lot of room for improvement. One of my friends has been playing for a number of years but I'm already waaaay ahead of him due to the difference in our practice regimes.

What I would say is that there will be a definite plateau from times to time, but similarly there will be times when everything just "clicks" and you will make big leaps forward really quickly. It gets very addictive when you start progressing like this.

One actual tip I do have is about strengthening your hands (childish giggle  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">  ) once or twice every day take a bit of time and spread and stretch your fingers on each hand as far as possible for a couple of seconds, hold and then clench your fist as tightly as possible. Repeat as time permits. I used to do it driving to work...gear changes excepted, of course.

Good luck!!
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Awesome, this is just the info I needed. I can stretch across 4 frets but I would like to stretch across 5 if possible. I am still weak in the fingers though I can feel my pinky getting stronger and more accurate day by day.

Thanks,

Dm

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>moddish wrote on Fri, 14 July 2006 15&#58;48</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I've only been learning guitar for a couple of months and I was hoping some of the more experienced players could give me some tips.

How to avoid bad habbits,how to keep my hard won calluses,some tips to improve the dexterity of my fretting hand, that sort of thing.

If you have any tips at all I would appreciate them.

Thanks.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile"> 
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On keeping your hard won callouses practice every day even if only for 10 minutes. For dexterity here is a little exercise I do daily. Start on the low "e" string first fret use your pointer finger strum#1, 2nd fret index finger strum#2, 3 fret ring finger strum#3 and 4th fret pinky finger strum#4. repeat the pattern on all strings. (e,a,d,g,b,e) At first forwards (1,2,3,4 from low e to the high e) then alternating picking strums and work them forward and backwards until you become comfortable. Then you can do a variation of that excersice, 1,2,3,4 on the first fret low "e", 2nd fret same pattern start on the "a" string, 3rd fret "d" string and so on 4th fret "g"string, 5th fret "b"string and 6th fret high 'E"string. then work it backwards starting on your high "e.

This will strech out your fingers and you will be able to work your neck up & down plus learn alternate picking patterns.

Hope this helps. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

Bootleger.

Bootleger guitars.

TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS

1. Play standing up

  If you learn sitting down you will not be able to have your guitar hang low when standing up because you will be used to having it near chin level.

2. Warm up fingers and build speed

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Do all downstrokes on this at first and then learn to alternate pick it.  There are many variations.  After that start it on the 5th fret.