play guitar

[dlay]

HI dlay, WELCOME ABOARD!
I second and third those recommendations about the places that will show you a set of lyrics along with the chord diagrams. Find as many songs that you "always wanted to learn" as possible, I believe it makes the learning struggle more enjoyable. When I was getting started I was buying those books like "Easy Grateful Dead" and "Easy George Harrison", they'd have 9 or 10 songs for a very reasonable price, like $10.00, and all the chords would be reduced to simple easy-to-plays, great for beginners. Personally I think "tabs" are a time-waster, I think they take too long to decipher and I think you learn the chord names more easily from diagrams, pretty quickly you'll know how to make the chord when all you see is its name.
Also there are a lot of us here who'll be glad to check out your D35 to make sure it hasn't somehow become infected with an anti-beginner virus, we usually offer that service for free if you cover shipping! :lol:

Mine is virus free, hasnt been played in so long until recently, belonged to my cousin who was killed in 1973, and has laid in a closet until last summer when my aunt gave it to me. The sn is oj809, it is a d35 and good condition. I cherish it and have got to learn to play even at the beginners level....

 

[adorshki]

Sorry to hear the circumstances weren't the best for the handing down of the instrument, but I know how you feel, I wouldn't sell my D25 for anything, period, and the other two only under extreme duress.

 

[JerryR]

HI dlay, WELCOME ABOARD!
I second and third those recommendations about the places that will show you a set of lyrics along with the chord diagrams. Find as many songs that you "always wanted to learn" as possible, I believe it makes the learning struggle more enjoyable. When I was getting started I was buying those books like "Easy Grateful Dead" and "Easy George Harrison", they'd have 9 or 10 songs for a very reasonable price, like $10.00, and all the chords would be reduced to simple easy-to-plays, great for beginners. Personally I think "tabs" are a time-waster, I think they take too long to decipher and I think you learn the chord names more easily from diagrams, pretty quickly you'll know how to make the chord when all you see is its name.
Also there are a lot of us here who'll be glad to check out your D35 to make sure it hasn't somehow become infected with an anti-beginner virus, we usually offer that service for free if you cover shipping! :lol:

Mine is virus free, hasnt been played in so long until recently, belonged to my cousin who was killed in 1973, and has laid in a closet until last summer when my aunt gave it to me. The sn is oj809, it is a d35 and good condition. I cherish it and have got to learn to play even at the beginners level....

I'd be happy to do a direct comparison with mine..... :wink:

 

[tjmangum]

Thinking of a teacher, want to get one that will work with me on my level.

Interview them beforehand or pay for a starter lesson. A good teacher will be able to work with you at your level and help you advance. Some will even look forward to working with you because your level of motivation makes you a more interesting student than someone who is taking lessons because their parents insist or someone who isn't willing to work.

Lessons, with the right person, are a very worthwhile investment. Why learn bad habits when you can start right the first time? The learning curve can be shortened considerably.
Good luck!
tj

 

[Bikerdoc]

Welcome Dlay....
A lot of talented folks here and very knowledgeable, willing to help, always caring, and ready to raz at the drop of a hat. :mrgreen:

I don't believe anyonne will steer you wrong. Practice with friends is great advice for starters and finding a teacher as well.

Good luck

Peace

 

[adorshki]

Lessons, with the right person, are a very worthwhile investment. Why learn bad habits when you can start right the first time? The learning curve can be shortened considerably.
Good luck!
tj

Second that, it's something I'd forgotten about. It's REAL hard to "unlearn" bad habits, which usually mean bad technique....playing position in itself is a bit of a science and has a huge influence on technique. My first lesson was devoted solely to an explanation of the ergonomics of the guitar and how playing position was a critical part of getting good clean notes, or technically, "tones". "Tones" are physical sound and "Timbre" is the word to describe the characteristics of that sound, ie, "woody" or "chimey" and "Pitch" what most people usually mean when they say "note", in other words a specific sound frequency like "A440". And finally a "note" is that little graphic thing on a staff that tells you what pitch to play. Thinking about this expands your awareness of what goes into the actual playing of music.
As a complete counterpoint it wouldn't surprise me at all if over the course of history far more musicians learned their craft without any written instruction than with it. Nothing wrong with just picking up and experimenting aorund for example. Most importantly you just gotta love music so much you'll spend hours just trying to satisfy yourself.

 

[dlay]

Thanks everyone for some good advice, am considering a teacher now.

 

[killdeer43]

Thanks everyone for some good advice, am considering a teacher now.

dlay,
I give lessons in my home or yours, but after looking at your location, we might have to work out some kind of travel incentive. :lol:

Best,
Joe

 

[JerryR]

Thanks everyone for some good advice, am considering a teacher now.

dlay,
I give lessons in my home or yours, but after looking at your location, we might have to work out some kind of travel incentive. :lol:

Best,
Joe

Meet up in Nebraska :mrgreen:

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks everyone for some good advice, am considering a teacher now.

dlay,
I give lessons in my home or yours, but after looking at your location, we might have to work out some kind of travel incentive. :lol:

Best,
Joe

Meet up in Nebraska :mrgreen:

But only if you are eligible for Medicare...

Since veering from one news item to another is sometimes permitted, how's that snow storm working for you Jerry? Staying safe and warm, I hope?

 

[brian f]

www.guitarnoise.com

if someone already mentioned this, then +1

David Hodge writes great lessons, and the lessons actually teach you some theory along the way.

When I started I didn't have a budget for lessons, so free online stuff was what I looked for.
GuitarNoise is GREAT, and it got me off an running in a big way.

 

[southernGuild]

Thanks Brian....that does look good. Seems like alot of good stuff at that site for players at many levels.

 

[JerryR]

"Tune it up, Play a song,...lets just SEE what haunts it"

Hey Southern - wouldnt 'HEAR' be more appropriate :mrgreen:

 

[adorshki]

"Tune it up, Play a song,...lets just SEE what haunts it"

Hey Southern - wouldnt 'HEAR' be more appropriate :mrgreen:

SShhhh! We're easing him into this a step at time! :lol: Seriously though it's a lyric, I forget his name but the link is actually in here somewhere..Verlon...?

 

[adorshki]

http://www.guitarnoise.com

if someone already mentioned this, then +1

David Hodge writes great lessons, and the lessons actually teach you some theory along the way.

When I started I didn't have a budget for lessons, so free online stuff was what I looked for.
GuitarNoise is GREAT, and it got me off an running in a big way.

I just checked it out, you're right, it's great!. I just read this:
http://www.guitarnoise.com/lesson/teaching-chords/
That's exactly the kind of stuff to help get you jump started and get a little insight about "ergonomics".

 

[killdeer43]

If the player is making a G chord with his 1,2,3 fingers (as it's shown in the photo), I'd change that right away to 2, 3,4. :wink:

Joe

 

[West R Lee]

I have my old guild d35, that has been in my family since the late 60's, and I have learned G,C, and D cords. This is as far as I have gotten in my musical career, the books get to be greek quick. I know that I will never be able to play well, but would like to learn to play simple tunes and satisfy myself. Any advice appreciated.

Man if you know a G, C and D chord, you can play every song I know, and then a world more I'm sure......and about 90% of all country and bluegrass :mrgreen: Keep on playin'.

Tell ya what I did D. When I was a kid, and had an old Kay guitar....I wanted to learn to play so badly. I bought a book of tabs, not any tabs, tabs for songs I knew by heart......songs I knew the melody of and the lyics........"The Eagles" comes to mind as they were one of the tabs books I bought. Anyway, the tabs taught me where to put my fingers on the neck and what the chords were called, and the melody taught me when to change chords. The guitar taught me where I needed to take my voice, and so on..................I suck to this day , don't remember the names of the chords and have never learned to really play the guitar......but man at the fun I've had.

West

 

[adorshki]

If the player is making a G chord with his 1,2,3 fingers (as it's shown in the photo), I'd change that right away to 2, 3,4. :wink:

Joe

Agreed for standard procedure, keeps the first finger free for barring at all times, as well as giving the weakest 3 more practice and training for use in bar positions. In reality I think the picture was posed by non-players without taking that slightly more advanced philosophy into account. 8)

 

[killdeer43]

If you never make a bar chord in your life, it's still best to learn G chord using 2,3,4. The transition in and out of G is infinitely easier.
Consider having your first finger 'available' to slide easily from G into C or G7. It's just easier, no matter where you go.

The ergonomics are also better, especially for arthritis sufferers. I know that one first hand (no pun intended).

Cheerily,
Joe

 

[Dr. Spivey]

"Tune it up, Play a song,...lets just SEE what haunts it"

Hey Southern - wouldnt 'HEAR' be more appropriate :mrgreen:

SShhhh! We're easing him into this a step at time! :lol: Seriously though it's a lyric, I forget his name but the link is actually in here somewhere..Verlon...?

Verlon Thompson, a fine picker and songwriter, not to mention an endorser of Guild guitars. http://www.guildguitars.com/artists/index.php?id=63