Advice on starting out on guitar

[clayrocks]

Try learning some basic major and minor chords, or teach your self songs here http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

+1, some really handy tips and tutorials on there. Im sure youtube has a lot of beginner tutorials aswell.

[zeta]

I think a few of you guys are aiming a little high now. He's saying he just started and you're telling him to learn pinch harmonics and barred chords? Come on.

(Alternate picking is a good habit to pick up from the start though)

Find a style that suits you and just start playing. Some people prefer playing chords, if that's your cup of tea then just look up chords to some songs you like and start playing. It's awkward with the fingering first and it'll sound like shit and pretty generic but just keep at it.

Me, I hated playing chords so I just looked up tabs of simple songs and started playing that. I prefer riffing over chords, I hate the whole 'douchebag with a guitar'-singalong thing. So if you think that's more your style, go for that. A couple Red Hot Chili Peppers songs are pretty easy to play in the beginning and also sound pretty decent, check out By the Way and Otherside for example.

Does it sound a bit too ambitious if I say I want to be able to do both?

I have a nice steel-stringed acoustic guitar, and as I said it's not my first time trying to pick it up - I tried it once several years ago but never got past two or three chords. Hopefully I'll be more determined to get the awkward hand positions and callouses this time!

[zeta]

Double post.

[Sinergy]

This sounds like a no-brainer, but remember to breathe while you're playing. Newbies often hold their breath when they do chord transitions or whatnot. Keep breathing and relax.

Also, make sure the back of your hand is as straight as possible in tandem with your wrist; i.e., don't do the "crab claw" unless you want to get carpal tunnel.

which could lead to crab core

[skerrick]

fuck that man, if youre learning from scratch and cant afford lessons, look up "how to read and play guitar tablature" and youlld be jamming tunes in a matter of minutes. TABLATURE PWNS. dont knwo why every guitarist doesnt learn it haha

[Artie_Fufkin]

which could lead to crab core

Adjust your strap(if your acoustic has one) so your guitar sits above your waist when standing. If you do it like the guy on the left, your wrist will thank you.
except you'll want the guitar neck tilted higher, not perpendicular with your body.

[Maxxan]

I think a few of you guys are aiming a little high now. He's saying he just started and you're telling him to learn pinch harmonics and barred chords? Come on.

(Alternate picking is a good habit to pick up from the start though)

Find a style that suits you and just start playing. Some people prefer playing chords, if that's your cup of tea then just look up chords to some songs you like and start playing. It's awkward with the fingering first and it'll sound like shit and pretty generic but just keep at it.

Me, I hated playing chords so I just looked up tabs of simple songs and started playing that. I prefer riffing over chords, I hate the whole 'douchebag with a guitar'-singalong thing. So if you think that's more your style, go for that. A couple Red Hot Chili Peppers songs are pretty easy to play in the beginning and also sound pretty decent, check out By the Way and Otherside for example.

Does it sound a bit too ambitious if I say I want to be able to do both?

I have a nice steel-stringed acoustic guitar, and as I said it's not my first time trying to pick it up - I tried it once several years ago but never got past two or three chords. Hopefully I'll be more determined to get the awkward hand positions and callouses this time!

Not at all man. Just play whatever, doesn't really matter what. The first months are all about getting your fingers used to the motions, in the beginning it's pretty awkward and can hurt if you strain yourself in long sessions etc. It's just about finding a way to make it fun so you don't lose interest.

Crabcore is the shit btw, used to crabhammer the fuck out of everything in my old band. The only thing cooler than that gif is when you throw the guitar up behind your neck while you're doing it and simultaneously alternate stomping with your left and right feet. Bitches go crazy for that shit.

[StratosFear]

It's been said a lot, but the two best things to learn are:

Strumming/picking: don't even bar any chords at first. Just work on strumming up/down until you can hold a steady rhythm NATURALLY. Naturally meaning it flows, no forced concentration.

Basic chords: Once you have the picking/strumming down, learn the fingering for basic chords. They should be enough to play some simple songs, or at least close enough to the actual chords that you can still play along. Then figure out the strumming, and work on the transitions between chords. The more you play, the more your muscles will remember the chords shapes, and the easier it will get.

Then once you have that down, experiment with harder chords and maybe some soloing. But you need to get the basics first.

[Augment]

Here, have some motivation aswell.

Just imagine that he's speaking about learning how to play guitar

[Artie_Fufkin]

Also make sure to get callouses on all of your fingers. Don't forget the pinky.

[Kit Fysto]

theres a nice exercise you can do that helps the independent use of all 4 of your fingers. starting on the lowest string, place your index finger on the first fret and strum down, middle finger 2nd fret-strum up, ring finger 3rd fret and strum down, pinky on the 4th fret and strum up. repeat the exact same thing on the next string down. go all the way to the highest string then repeat the whole exercise backwards. this is gonna be kind of boring and possibly tedious, but one of the hardest things to learn on guitar in the beginning in my opinion, is how to use your fingers independently and it also helps sync your timing between your 2 hands with strumming and fret changes. good luck!

[Swelly]

A good place for articles, reviews, and TABS would be http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Secondly, short nails.

Third, your fingertips WILL callus...as gross as this may sound, it happens, do not bite your calluses off

Fourth, make sure you practice with heavy gauged strings so that you can build the endurance in your finger. The lighter gauges tend to "cut" into your skin and this cuts practice/jam sessions short for obvious reasons.

Fifth, make sure your guitar is always in tune.

Lastly, I find it easiest to practice when the room is fairly warm but not unbearably hot. My fingers tend to lock up when the room is too cold. Maybe that's just me?

[skerrick]

A good place for articles, reviews, and TABS would be http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Secondly, short nails.

Third, your fingertips WILL callus...as gross as this may sound, it happens, do not bite your calluses off

Fourth, make sure you practice with heavy gauged strings so that you can build the endurance in your finger. The lighter gauges tend to "cut" into your skin and this cuts practice/jam sessions short for obvious reasons.

Fifth, make sure your guitar is always in tune.

Lastly, I find it easiest to practice when the room is fairly warm but not unbearably hot. My fingers tend to lock up when the room is too cold. Maybe that's just me?

tabcrawler.com is where to get best tabs.

short nails dont matter, using a pick matters, in fact, if youre fingerpicking you WANT long nails.

biting off calouses hurts like shit.

practice/PLAY on light gauge strings (ernie ball slinkys) regardless, youll get callouses anyway, and you cant cut your finger on the e string unless youre playing it like a rapist.

buy a semi acoustic, most have built in tuners and are cheap second hand.

[skerrick]

Also make sure to get callouses on all of your fingers. Don't forget the pinky.

you dont really have to try, play till your fingers hurt, stop playing, play the next day till your fingers hurt, stop playing, rinse and repeat.

[RandoRando]

To pinch harmonic. After you pluck the string with the pick, stop it from vibrating with the edge of your thumb. In one quick fluid motion. To play core metal. Drop c tuning. Frets 0 1 3 5 7 8 10 12 on the G STRING. on the low C the sMe thing.

[skerrick]

To pinch harmonic. After you pluck the string with the pick, stop it from vibrating with the edge of your thumb. In one quick fluid motion. To play core metal. Drop c tuning. Frets 0 1 3 5 7 8 10 12 on the G STRING. on the low C the sMe thing.

hahaha bro mad tips but i think this guys a beginner...

[JFK]

you cant cut your finger on the e string unless youre playing it like a rapist.

Playing like a rapist. Classic. Im really getting to like this skerrick guy.

@op - Surgical spirit dabbed onto your finger tips with a cotton bud will help them to callouse up quicker.

Also a good song to learn if you want to practice barre chords is Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit. Its very easy to play and has barre chords all the way through.

[Maxxan]

you cant cut your finger on the e string unless youre playing it like a rapist.

Playing like a rapist. Classic. Im really getting to like this skerrick guy.

@op - Surgical spirit dabbed onto your finger tips with a cotton bud will help them to callouse up quicker.

Also a good song to learn if you want to practice barre chords is Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit. Its very easy to play and has barre chords all the way through.

+1 on the rapist thing, had me chuckling lol.

That's actually just regular power chords in smells like teen spirit though, it's the tonic, fifth and then the octave. And a lot of muted strings.

That's cool about the surgical spirit though, my left hand has softened up like fuck. Went and bought me some 56' strings the other day thinking to pick it up again so I might need to try that out to get back in the game faster, cheers mate.

[JFK]

That's actually just regular power chords in smells like teen spirit though, it's the tonic, fifth and then the octave. And a lot of muted strings..

Just a different way of playing it innit. Ive always played it with full barre chords. Anyways, its too advanced for him at the moment. Sticking with Nirvana though, maybe "Come as you are" would be a fun one to try.......

That's cool about the surgical spirit though, my left hand has softened up like fuck. Went and bought me some 56' strings the other day thinking to pick it up again so I might need to try that out to get back in the game faster, cheers mate
.

Yeah, trust it works a treat!

[Augment]

That's actually just regular power chords in smells like teen spirit though, it's the tonic, fifth and then the octave. And a lot of muted strings..

Just a different way of playing it innit. Ive always played it with full barre chords. Anyways, its too advanced for him at the moment. Sticking with Nirvana though, maybe "Come as you are" would be a fun one to try.......

Blink-182 - All the small things and Blink-182 - Dammit
Two first songs I ever played on the guitar, learned me alot. Like power chords, palm muting and stuff.