Topic: A beginner with few problems

Hello!

I've been playing guitar for a couple of months, but not very serious because of school. Now I have a break and decided to start learning more seriously.

My biggest problem is tuning. I have an electric piano that I use for tuning. (I know I could buy an electric tuner but I want to learn to tune the guitar without help of any electronic devices)

I know that open strings must be tuned to EADGBE, so I tune them with the help of my digital piano. After I do this I check it by playing intervals, fe. playing E and then A on piano and then E string and A string on guitar to hear if the interval sounds the same. So, after I do this everything sounds OK until - I strum a chord! Then it all sounds off. One string at a time sounds correct but all together they dont!

I have quite good relative pitch, but Im afraid something is wrong with my ears when it comes to hearing small differences between tones. And, of course, with every tone a small difference it becomes terrible when they are strummed together. I am afraid this is uncurable, but in case anyone had this problem and solved it I would be very grateful for an advice!

Another problem with tuning is that Im always afraid I will break a string. But OK, I probably must be just careful when tuning and this will not be a problem anymore.

The second 'problem' is not really a problem, just a question: How long did it take you to play barre chords smoothly? I have a classical guitar and altough I've been trying to play them for a few months Im nowhere playing them clearly. Probably only because of a lack of practice, but Im interested how long did it take you anyway.

And the third: When I play the fourth (G) string it makes a little buzz that is very irritating. But it only makes a buzz when I play it open, or with a finger on first fret or with a finger on second fret. If the finger is on third, fourth etc. fret it doesnt make a buzz.

Last thing: I want to play songs from artist like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen etc. so if here's anyone who enjoys the same type of music Ill be glad to hear your views, any advice etc.

Thanks for reading such a long post!

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hi Leo D
Welcome to Chordie
I would suggest you buy a tuner as being off just a touch will sound like a mile.They are fairly cheap to buy now a days
You could have excellent pitch and that is why it sounds off.
Barre chords will depend on you and the guitar you are playing.The harder the guitar plays the more effort you have to put into it.No such thing as a time table for this as it's an individual thing.
It sounds to me like your guitar needs to be brought to the guitar hospital for a check up.I would advise this as it will take away from the frustrations and make playing that much more enjoyable.Maybe that is why you are having a hard time tuning it also.
As for artists....You got good taste and there are lots of chordies here that will point you in the right direction.
Hope it helps smile

KAP54

Just Keepin on Keepin on
Martin DC15E
Cort MR710F
Squire Strat (Chinese)

Re: A beginner with few problems

Get a tuner.  It's nice that you want to learn to tune without the aid of an electronic device, but are you trying to learn to play a guitar or to tune a guitar?  If you want to learn to play the guitar, just get a tuner and get the thing in tune.  If you're trying to learn relative pitch to the n-th degree, then keep going but realize that while you're learning to tune a guitar your learning to play a guitar will suffer.  Also, your guitar neck could have a warp or bend.  I had a guitar once that I could only get five of the strings in tune at any one time. 

Barre chords give everyone fits.  Keep practicing.  I find them easier on a folk style guitar than a classical, but others have a different experience.  I've been playing about two years and still have trouble getting to an F that sounds decent.  I'm getting Bm and F#m OK, but F is a buggaboo.  B is evil and you should avoid it at all costs.  (jk)

Sounds to me in my inexpert opinion like you have a fret that's sticking up a little and needs some attention.  Get professional help.  Don't try to fix it on your own without being taught how to do it. 

Look up song chords on Chordie and have at it.  Practice slowly at first and carefully finger the chords, then slowly increase speed to improve your chord changes.  Don't try to go full speed and hope that your fingering will gain in precision over time.  It won't without you specificially working on that skill. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

Re: A beginner with few problems

get a tuner .... why waste good playing time trying to tune when no one else does ? tune up and play !

any resemblance to my songs sounding anything like the original is highly unlikely.

Re: A beginner with few problems

Thanks KAP54, Zurf and evsynator!

I will get my guitar repaired. If not for other things then Ill do it because this buzz sound is really irritating.

As for tuning – I will buy an electric tuner. But still, I would really like to know why I have such problems tuning the guitar. Maybe just a question: Did any of you also have this problem?
If there's a problem with guitar I will see after it is repaired, but I still think its something with my ears, and I hope it can be 'repaired'. The reason Im talking so much about this is that I 'feel', that you arent a proper musician if you cant tune your guitar without a tuner.

Anyway, thanks for the advice!

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hey Leo smile You say you have been playing for only a few months,Don't be hard on yourself if you cant tune by ear right away.I know lots of players that are real good and have a hard time tuning.You'll pick it up when you pick it up.Have fun with it and it'll come to you,after you got your guitar serviced.
KAP54

Just Keepin on Keepin on
Martin DC15E
Cort MR710F
Squire Strat (Chinese)

Re: A beginner with few problems

Thanks KAP54!

I have one more question, and this one actually has to do with learning how to play. smile

I know all the basic chords (major, minor and 7 chords) but Im not very fluent in switching between them. I wonder if there are any tips or strategies I should be using, or do I just keep trying changing between all these chords.

Also, regarding barre chords: I wonder how one practises barre chords. I mean, I just cant play a barre chord with clean sound (so that none of the strings are muted). So, should practising look like that - trying for half an hour to get a clean sound out of it?

8 (edited by geoaguiar 2008-07-09 13:17:07)

Re: A beginner with few problems

For practicing bar chords: I started with the standard shapes and then worked my way into the more complex ones. For example: start with F and B (you'll sometimes hear them referred to as the E and A shaped chords) and maybe B minor. When you master these 3 shapes you're well on your way.
F = 133211 B = 113331 B Minor = 113321. sliding these shapes down the fret board will give you many chords. ex: F slide up 2 gives you G slide up 2 more gives you A, etc.
There are many posts regarding this topic I highly recommend using the search feature to find and read them. People a lot more qualified then me have posted their wisdom.
The time (and finger pain) spent learning these shapes will pay off. If you want to be even a mediocre player you'll have to have bar chords under your belt. bar chords will make you a better musician and open up new ways of playing.
Keep at it.

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello

Re: A beginner with few problems

Does anyone know the easiest most simple song to learn on the guitar for beginners.

Re: A beginner with few problems

I've always used a pitch pipe.  I prefer it.  Generally I can get the pitch pipe out and tune each string quickly and I'm good to go.  I also have good pitch.  But, there are some days where I just have trouble getting each string right.  I don't know why that is.

You can see all my video covers on [url]http://www.youtube.com/bensonp1000[/url]
I have finally found happiness in my life.  Guitars, singing, beer and camping.  And they all intertwine wonderfully.

Re: A beginner with few problems

learnguitar wrote:

Does anyone know the easiest most simple song to learn on the guitar for beginners.

"Jambalaya" - It alternates between G7 and C. 

Another super-easy one is "Horse with No Name".  It has four chords, but each of then uses only two fingers each and none of them require you to not play any strings. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

Re: A beginner with few problems

Thanks everybody again,

Im now quite good at switching between open chords and when I played on friends electric guitar I was also able to play barre chords clearly. The acoustic is, however, another story and looks like its gonna be a long long time till Ill be able to play them clearly.

I have one more question, this one about strumming. I basically use two rhythms when playing songs: the first one is simple: bass-chord, bass-chord etc. used mainly for simple folk songs and then the second one: DOWN, DOWN UP, UP DOWN UP that I use on pretty much anything else. Can you suggest other patterns or a source where I can find them?

13 (edited by GoodbyeBlueSky 2008-07-25 11:22:23)

Re: A beginner with few problems

I was trying to learn to tune by ear too..
But then I gave up and bought a tuner, made my life so much easier.

I should probably be less serious about guitar 'cause of school too,
But I prefer my guitar to homework. xD

And I listen to Bob Dylan and all that,
But I don't know how I could give you advice...

-Kerry-

All I know is I feel better when I sing.
Burdens are lifted from me.
That's my voice rising.

Re: A beginner with few problems

hi leo,
guess we have the same problem....
I learned how to play guitar when i was in high school, but till now i feel like am still a beginner...
i just learned how to play all by myself...
i think we must practice more...

Re: A beginner with few problems

Yep - I think this is always an answer: Practice more (and better!)!

Re: A beginner with few problems

I know quiet a few experianced guitar players who insist on tuning by ear.  To be honest, I think it's a bit of an ego thing with them.  Sound can be measured in the same way that weight and distance can be measured.  We wouldn't expect to judge a distance by eye and be right each time...so why expect it with sound by ear?

Get a decent tuner that clamps on the head and works from vibrations.  Works everywhere and will always be right.

Enjoy,

Pat

My ambition far exceeds my ability

Re: A beginner with few problems

Learn to play the open G without using your index finger. Even though it's more difficult to learn, you'll never regret it because it will let you transition to barre - and other - chords easier. Middle finger on A 2nd fret, ring finger on big E 3rd fret, and pinkie on little E 3rd fret.

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hey Leo, perhaps you are in a bit of a hurry to learn too much too quickly.  Your still at school,
so you won't have as much time as old guys like me, I started playing Guitar just under a year ago; give or take a week, at 62, so you see I don't have the time you have. However I played in a band when I was young and you had to learn Music. Our conductor always said there were
olny two words that mattered in music they were; Timing and Practice, without Timing all the practice in the world was usuless, and if you had Timing if you didn't practice, you were going nowhere, lighten up on yourself enjoy you learning.

As for Barre Chords, well barre chordes =Practice.  If you go over to the JamPlay site and watch the free lessons, there one on Barre Chords, it lasts for 38 minutes it;s verry good.

Remember, and a lot of people don't that Barre Chords opens the whole neck of the guitar to you. the two main bar shaps are the E chord shape and the A shape; and dont forget once you learn the dreaded Barre Chords it's not just chords like FMajor or B Major you can play using the open E & A shapes in a barre you can play chords in the Minnor the Seventh and Major Seventh, and that;s just for starters. I wish you good luck.

Luck to all. !!!

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hi Leo Me again just a quickie, you say you have good pitch, you tune your guitar and the strings sound fine; until you play a chord.  Perhaps your pitch is not as good as you think, and I don't mean any offence by that, if it's not your pitch then something is raddicialy wrong with your guitar.
I have a pretty good ear and if I can get my high E string to sound in tune, then i can tune the rest of the strings to that.  How you do it is im most beginers books; having said that i use an electronic tunner, because how would you feel if you walked out on stage with a band to find that you were not as quite in tune as you thought. One tip, you should tune youe guitar every time you use it, if your not suer if it's out of tune then play a full E Major chord playing all six strings, play it slowly a couple of times and you'll soon hear if it's in tune or not.
Luck to all. !!!

Re: A beginner with few problems

"I still think its something with my ears, and I hope it can be 'repaired'."

Well, in my experience it was my ears ! Over a number of years it became more and more difficult to hit pitch when tuning. From there being a sharp edge to the note, it slowly rounded off until now I can only tell that I am off pitch when I play a chord ( it "beats" wrongly ) or the tuner tells me.

Quite separately, I went for years ignoring complaints from wife and kids over having to ask them to repeat anything they said. I eventually bit the bullet and got my ears tested. I now have a hearing aid and it makes all the difference.

I still play the guitar without a hearing aid - just using a tuner to tune. When I play with the hearing aid in the whole tone of the guitar changes - becomes toppy.

There are a huge number of people whose hearing starts to deteriorate at they get older. The answer is to recognise the symptoms and do something about it. Now when I put in my hearing aid in the morning, suddenly the birds burst into song.

"What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understandin' ."    Elvis Costello

21 (edited by Headcase 2008-07-28 10:20:50)

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hi Alansheeran, it's the flute player again, no, I have the same problem, ie, a Hearing aid, but I use it while I'm playing the guitar or not, I can still pick out my Minors and sevenths ect,
I blame it all on the flute playing, too close to the base drummer, I expect?

Luck to all !!!

Re: A beginner with few problems

'Bout ye, Headcase !

I blame mine on Jimi Hendrix at full volume stereo six inches from each ear trying to track the guitar as it shifts from one speaker to the other. We should form a band, call ourselves the deef eejits !

Allabest.

"What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understandin' ."    Elvis Costello

23 (edited by Headcase 2008-07-28 13:39:41)

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hi Alan, you of course realize that most people on this site don't have a clue what were talking about.
I am game for a Band just no Base Drums., we'd have to have big speakers though, and that's would be just for us never mind the public.
As we say over here: May you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows you'er dead!
Live long my Friend.

Luck to all. !!!

Re: A beginner with few problems

Hi this is Headcase signing off for three weeks in America, stay well everyone.

Luck to all. !!!

Re: A beginner with few problems

Leo D. wrote:

Thanks everybody again,

Im now quite good at switching between open chords and when I played on friends electric guitar I was also able to play barre chords clearly. The acoustic is, however, another story and looks like its gonna be a long long time till Ill be able to play them clearly.

I have one more question, this one about strumming. I basically use two rhythms when playing songs: the first one is simple: bass-chord, bass-chord etc. used mainly for simple folk songs and then the second one: DOWN, DOWN UP, UP DOWN UP that I use on pretty much anything else. Can you suggest other patterns or a source where I can find them?

I agree that playing barre chords is a lot easier on an electric, but keep after it with an acoustic. It's well worth the effort. I just played a song at my sisters funeral...I mean... wedding this weekend that had two barre chords in it. I finger-picked it and it sounded great! It has taken ten years for me to develop enough confidence to finger-pick barre chords in front of an audience so I was stoked when it turned out well.

As far as strumming is concerned, your basic down, down, up, up, down, up, will get you through a lot of songs with 4-beat measure. www.justinguitar.com has some lessons on strumming if you need some more help.  Learning basic strumming patterns will definitely help when you are playing with other people. Once you play awhile you'll be able to feel the beat and strum along as it feels right which is fun if you're jamming by yourself, not so much when you're playing with other people. Another tip would be to play with other people. You can learn some cool strumming patterns from them, not to mention new songs and chords. That is by far the best way to learn aside from taking lessons. And don't worry about looking dumb when you jam with other guitarists. Every one of us started where you are now and can understand the frustration. Most of us are always willing to give pointers to ease that frustration.

Hope this helps man. Good Luck!

"Do or do not, there is no try." Yoda