• Registered: 2006-09-28
  • Posts: 11

Topic: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hi Guitar Gurus


I wanted to make contact with anyone out there who is NEW, or JUST STARTED to learn to play guitar.


If I had known how difficult it was to play, and how long it would take, I might have thought twice about learning at all.


I had no previous musical talent; just liked the sound and wanted to learn.


Starting is INCREDIBLY difficult and takes lots&lots&lots&lots of patience.


I have been playing for 2 years and I am just about at the point where I can switch chords quickly and smoothly, do bar chords, and reach some of the notes which seemed impossible and unreachable even a few months ago.


A lot of people giveup because they feel they are not progressing, or it feels too difficult.


My Advice: Keep going! Keep practicing every day, keep enjoying it by learning simple songs, just play notes/chords that you like to keep you interested if you are getting bored of scales. Eventually your brain suddenly and unexpectedly just automatically drives your fingers in  away which is really easy.


Get a good guitar.


Don't switch between electric and acoustic when you are first learning, as they require completely different techniques and ways of playing.



You WILL get there eventually, and that will make playing guitar all the more rewarding when you do crack it finally.


Good luck and use the chordie forum!   <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

  • vsn3e8
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-20
  • Posts: 6

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Everything he says here is true. I 2nd this post.

  • From: UK
  • Registered: 2006-05-16
  • Posts: 10

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Ditto.  I trawled Chordie (All hail the mighty Chordie) for hours and hours, looking for songs I recognised that only had 2 or 3 chords.  Playing the songs I knew made me feel better about all the hours I'd put in with nothing to show.  The other piece of advice I'd picked up from here, always stretch yourself, once you can use the chords you know inside out, pick more, don't stop.


Remember, there are people on the Chordie forum that have forgotten more than some of us will ever know about the guitar, use their knowledge.  I found out long ago, that whatever you're feeling, however much you're angered by your lack of progress, you're not the first.


Like peterhobden said, it takes patience, but it is so worth it.


Black_Stetson

Be light unto thyself.
  • Jace
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-17
  • Posts: 33

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

I'm so glad to have read this post. I'm trying to learn on an acoustic and have been getting frustrated. I'm slower than a turtle on valium right now. But after reading your posts, I'm just going to keep trying. Thanks guys! Jace

  • Dazf39
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-05
  • Posts: 1

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hi everyone,

I have recently found Chordie (brilliant site that has kept me going through all those mangled F's)and have just registered.

I have been learning guitar for about a 18 months now and it is reassuring to know that others struggle the way i do. This is great advice that we can all identify with.

I am the proud owner of an Ovation celebrity deluxe which i play through a Marshall AS50D. Has anyone else got the same set up?

  • Kahuna
  • Kahuna
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-07-12
  • Posts: 290

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Daz,


Yes, I have the same set up as you.  I too, have an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe, but using a Crate CA30 for amp.  I love the sound of Ovation and do like its smaller neck.  The Celebrity sounds awesome, plugged in or not.


Thanks,

Kahuna!


<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Dazf39 wrote on Thu, 05 October 2006 13&#58;03</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Hi everyone,

I have recently found Chordie (brilliant site that has kept me going through all those mangled F's)and have just registered.

I have been learning guitar for about a 18 months now and it is reassuring to know that others struggle the way i do. This is great advice that we can all identify with.

I am the proud owner of an Ovation celebrity deluxe which i play through a Marshall AS50D. Has anyone else got the same set up?


</td></tr></table>

  • Registered: 2006-10-29
  • Posts: 1

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

So true- So true!

I've been learning guitar for about 2 months now and have just moved up to 3 and 4 chord songs. And I'm beginning to NOT to have to stop strumming every time I shift chords. Heh.

It'll take time but I'm gonna stick with it.

And since misery loves company, SO SHOULD YOU!

  • calel
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-29
  • Posts: 2

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

glad i found this.. gave me a little push not to give up! man, learning how to play is so hard!


can you give me specific songs with 2 chords?please give me a nice 2-chord song to learn (or 3 chords at the most).


i know there are a lot of songs here but i dont have the luxury(and time) to browse all the the songs.


thanks

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hello calel - regarding 2-chord songs, nothing comes to mind right now. However, I just recently posted a songbook (Kid Songs BIG FUN) that has a ton of simple 3-chord stuff in it.


Look under the "Misc. Nursery Rhymes" selection.  There are actually over 40 short songs in that one listing.  Most of songs are 3-chord wonders.


I realize that playing Mother Goose songs and nursery rhymes might seem a bit odd.  But these little tunes all have very basic song structure so they are relatively simple.


I edited the "Misc. Nursery Rhymes" item so that all the songs are in the key of C.  If you transpose the selection, they will all transpose together into whatever key you may prefer: G or D or A, or whatever.


I found the process of editing these little tunes to be a great learning experience.  The songs are really alot fun to sing and play.  They are like "stem cell songs" you can make them grow into whatever you want - make 'em fancy and complex, or keep 'em simple.

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Great advice on the nursery rhyme thing. I also like to play a lot of traditional Scots or Irish folk songs for the same reason; they tend to be 3 chord gems and have a nice simple structure.

I'm also Scottish with Irish roots, so nuff said.

My daughter has just started learning at school and it has reminded me that it really is SO hard when you start. But hey so is any instrument. And nothing good ever came easy.

Keep going. I love it.

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

I also enjoy the traditional Scottish and Irish songs - you may also appreciate this link to an article about the 'Carmina Gadelica' a fascinating collection of old songs, poems, and stories from the Highlands and Hebrides.


<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Gadelica" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Gadelica</a>


The article has links to on-line versions of the texts.  Although there are no chords or music for the songs, it is fun to figure out your own musical versions.

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • Registered: 2006-10-31
  • Posts: 3

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

how inspiring. thanks for sharing that and have a nice day. i'm new here so yeah

  • Kahuna
  • Kahuna
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-07-12
  • Posts: 290

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Some of you may already know this, but your learning can also be accelerated if you attend (or host) a jamming session! 


That's right!  A Jamming Session!  Sure, we have books and videos available to learn from.  But, it's nothing like getting together with people you know (or don't know) and start playing the same songs together!  I have recently put together a bi-weekly jamming session with some people at work.  Now, we have at least five people at every session. 


I personally, have learned much more when watching someone play a chord or a song that I like.  As well, sharing some of my favorites with them.  Give it a try!  You'll be surprised how fast you can learn a song when you start jamming with other people.


Good luck and play often!


Kahuna!


<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>calel wrote on Mon, 30 October 2006 09&#58;31</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
glad i found this.. gave me a little push not to give up! man, learning how to play is so hard!


can you give me specific songs with 2 chords?please give me a nice 2-chord song to learn (or 3 chords at the most).


i know there are a lot of songs here but i dont have the luxury(and time) to browse all the the songs.


thanks

</td></tr></table>

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

I guess I've been playing for about 10 years now.  I still feel like a beginner some times.  After about 2 years of playing, I realized that either i suck tremendously or I'll get it one day.  Either way, I was still passionate about playing.  I always kept my guitar and there was a time period where I just picked it up once in a while  or it was a phase thing where I'd get in the mood and play a lot and then put it down for a few months.  Then a couple of years ago, I found this site and my learning curve spiked.  All I did was simply play a song on my CD, find the song on here and play along.  My advice is:  you are going to be learning for the rest of your life and there is absolutely no rush what so ever.  There will always be people so much better that you and you will always play better than so many people too.  Just play because you enjoy it!

  • tadot
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 4

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

I had a so so guitar .... lost interest years later got a wild hair and bought a great guitar (used) I figured the value will never go down and actually has gone up.

   But the kicker is playing on a good guitar is like night and day it's a different animal it feels better easier to play and sounds like a harp compared to what I had... stay away from laminates stick with solid wood guitars they sound better and better as they break in

I don't think a laminate will break in.

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 20

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

I've been playing the guitar 40 years now and am still learning.  I've been playing semi-professionally since college in the late 60's and early 70's (the early folk movement) and always pushing the envelope of what fantastic expression the guitar gives to my soul.  From folk to blues to rock to jazz to bluegrass to Celtic music, the guitar is almost an infinte instrument.


Here are a few suggestions for those that feel they "suck" at guitar.


<ol type="1">
<li>Start with a relatively inexpensive guitar that is easy to play.  My first guitar was a Nylon String Guitar I bought in Nuevo Larado Mexico for $5.00.  Nylon Strings were easy to play (my fingers didn't bleed) and easier to learn Barr Chords on.  Eventually Barr Chords and are be backbone of learning to play up the neck.  I played my first professional gig at a coffehouse with that guitar and used the money from that to upgrade....
<li>Find an instructor for at least the first few lessons.  I took about 6 weeks of lessons and have been self taught ever since.  But the instructor could progressively guide me through learning those first few songs.  And a GOOD instructor can teach you how to pick out songs on your own.
<li>Learn to strum.  I used a thumb to hit the base notes of a chord and my fingers to strum the rest of the strings.  By starting on that type of pattern, you can learn to keep a strong rhythm with your thumb and not "flail" the guitar.
<li>Practice, Practice, Practice.  As with ANYTHING getting better only comes with practice.  But always reserve time in that practice for fun, 'cause if it ain't fun, it ain't worth doing....
<li>Once you have gotten a little instructor time under your belt, there NOW are great instructional DVD's out there that will carry you further.  <a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.homespuntapes.com" target="_blank">http://www.homespuntapes.com</a> and <a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;guitarvideos.com/video/dvd/000completedvd.htm" target="_blank">http://guitarvideos.com/video/dvd/000completedvd.htm</a>  great sites with DVD's on lots of instruments and styles.  Now days a DVD costs about $30.00 or less.  That's often as much as a complete lesson... Each DVD has months worth of material to work on AND it's always available.  And I've emailed both these sites with questions and gotten personal answers.
<li>Set a time or goal to play your stuff for people.  It took me 3 years before I had the courage to play in front of a crowd, but I was playing for neighbors and everyone that would let me (OK, I'm a ham) after about 6 months.
<li>Once you've gotten about a year's worth of guitar underneath your belt, start learning music theory.  I wish I had.  When I used to learn songs, I approached each new song as a totally new experience.  Now that I've learned a enough music theory to be dangerous, I sit in jam sessions with songs I've never heard and know where the song is going and what I should play....
</ol>

Oh well... I could go on forever.  I love guitar, but it took a while to get good.  You don't have to be "great" at first... If you are passionate about it, that passion will filter into the songs you play and sing AND THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN TO.  Good luck and good learning


<font size="1">Boredom is a personal defect.

--Lamar Stephens</font>

  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Good advice, I have almost 33 years of playing behind me.  Our years in experience is longer than the average age of the new guitarist. The key things that newbies may want to focus upon is your comment on PRACTICE & PASSION. The music you play and create is an expressive emotion, How you feel and what you maybe going through.


Don't become a cookie cutter guitar player. While it is great to imulate the artist that you like to hear learn from their techinques and playing style don't become them their already doing it. Learn and incorporate from diffrent guitar players and styles of playing and create your style.


As Scawa stated I also love guitar playing and guitars. I still have my very first guitar a Fender Mustang I bought it when I was 13 years old. It was made October 8,1964, 42 years old and I still play it.

  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hi folks I am 55 and just recovering from a heart attack and quad bypass.
While I was off sick from work (8 months ) I thought I would try my hand at learning to play guitar ( what have i done )I have a "ARIA TA50 wr " semi-Acoustic guitar and an 10amp Hohner panther TEGA-10 which was giver to me and a CRATE GFX 65 gig amp from the same guy for £25 ( He was a a roadie once ). I have just found this site and hope it will help me learn more. After reading your posts it has given me heart ( no pun intended ) to keep practising.

Thanks Rodders

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hello Rodders56 - And welcome to chordie.  Glad to hear that you are recovering from a heart attack and that you have some fun toys to play with.  Congratulations on using your recovery time in such challenging and rewarding pursuit.  Certainly, learning to play guitar (or any instrument) is a better way to convelesce than just sitting around moping and staring at the television for months at a time.


What are your tastes in music to play?  Are you totally self-taught, or do you have a mentor to guide you through the wilderness?

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • Registered: 2006-12-03
  • Posts: 1

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hey all new to chordie wish i had found this site long ago. I have been playin on and off for 20 years just love the FUN and JOY it can bring.

All I can say to all the beginners is stay with it it will become second nature and lots and lots of fun. Nothing better then going somewhere and findin a few people sittin around jamin and jumpin in.....its a rush without the drugs........

Have fun and keep pickin

Fitz <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_surprised.gif" border=0 alt="Surprised">

  • Registered: 2006-12-04
  • Posts: 4

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

YEH SPOT ON WE GET THE CAMP SITES ROCKING PROPPER PARTY NONE OF THIS BOOM BOOM BOOM RUBBISH.

AND COULD DO THAT IN 6 MONTHS OF PLAYING, ONLY AT IT FOR 2 YEARS NOW BUT NOW LOADS OF SONGS EVEN IF NOT SPOT ON GET AWAY WITH IT.

ONLY ADVICE I WOULD GIVE IF U MISS THE CHORD SLIGHTLY DONT STOP KEEP STRUMMING NO ONE WILL NOTICE ANYWAY BUT WILL IF U STOP.IF THERE TAPPING THERE FOOT U ARE DOING IT RIGHT.

  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hi James I have a M8 who is helping me with some exercises and things. I will be haveing lessons sometime after Christmas now I am back at work and getting wages again. My tastes are many.At the moment I am trying to find Marie Elanor and Mona Lisa in tab, I don't know if they will be to advanced for me though.


Rodders56

  • Registered: 2006-10-16
  • Posts: 11

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

great topic.  very inspireing.  been playing for about a year and a half definately not great but I'm past the really hard frustrating stuff.  to all the new players stick with it, take a few lessons, and find an instructor that you like.  it will make a difference i took about 4 months of lessons but my teacher has become a close friend and has given much help even though I'm not a paying customer.

                 Justin

  • Registered: 2006-08-15
  • Posts: 80

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

i don't often get the chance but playing with freinds is the best fun. I love it.

  • Registered: 2006-11-21
  • Posts: 8

Re: Learning Acoustic Guitar - Warning - The Reality!

Hey,


This is a really good topic. I've been playing for about 7 years. I'm not that great but, I like to share my expiriences and advice. When I started I only knew 5 chords for about 4 years. I practiced and practiced. I only recently (about 3 years ago) really learned how to play. Now i'm teaching another young guitarist that's been wanting to play but, never knew how to start. It's really awesome to see her practice and learn but, she gets discouraged when she doesn't see much improvement. I always tell her that it takes pain and time but, it's worth it in the end.


Also if posible, found it easier to learn on a nylon string, than move up to a steel string. It helps the pain of getting callouses, and it makes you streatch your fingers more to really get the feel of the chord.


Anyway, hope this helps