How to start

Question:

What is the best way for a guy with an electric guitar with no money for lessons who has failed to learn from a beginners book to start to play the guitar?

Response:

What do you mean by? "failed to learn from a beginners book" Can you be more specific?

Response:

"> What is the best way for a guy with an electric guitar with no money > for lessons who has failed to learn from a beginners book to start to > play the guitar?

Last year I decided to learn the guitar, which I bought 3 years ago. I bought a few books. I eventually thought that it would be better to get a tutor, because I was convinced I was not playing correctly. Do you know anybody who can play? Even a friend of a friend? I have a lesson once a fortnight. (Thought I haven’t had one this year.) I thought I had improved, but when I played to a friend my fingers perspired and I fell apart. I was trying to play lucky by radiohead. I wasn’t…

Response:

<< What is the best way for a guy with an electric guitar with no money for lessons who has failed to learn from a beginners book to start to play the guitar? >><BR><BR> Well, it goes without saying that the best and quickest way to learn is with a teacher. If you can scrape up the bucks, they do make video tape/books that are out on the market that may help. I’ve seen quite a selection from MUSICIANS WORKSHOP but I’m not sure if they have a site. They did years ago but I haven’t been there in a long time. You can also check with your public library that carries video/cassette tapes and perhaps find something there. But guitar lessons generally run around fifteen to twenty bucks a lesson but most music stores want you there every week. The only other suggestion I could give you is next time you see a band play, ask one of the guitarists if they give private lessons. Explain your financial situation and perhaps they can set up a bi-weekly schedule for you if they do teach in their home. Good luck.

Response:

>What is the best way for a guy with an electric guitar with no money >for lessons who has failed to learn from a beginners book to start to >play the guitar?

Practice. A passerby that meddles in strife not his own, is like that of a man that pulls the ears of a dog. – Author Unknown

Response:

following to the group: >What is the best way for a guy with an electric guitar with no money >for lessons who has failed to learn from a beginners book to start to >play the guitar?

sell the electric guitar. No seriously these guitar for dummies and teach yourselve guitar in 21 day just don’t work. The best way is just simply a teacher, maybe a friend that can play better than you that will be willing to teach you the basics. A teacher is not always somebody that asks money it can be anybody that can teach you to do something you can’t. Do you drink? Stop drinking. Do you smoke? Stop smoking. Do you pay for sex? Stop… na, sell the bloody guitar! Threeships Mcduck www.mothership.co.za

Response:

Hi: Not everyone can take this advice. There are actually several different ways to learn that work well. Not all ways will work for you, but for sure some will. The only hard question is where will you get the hour a day. That is what it takes (minimum). If you want to learn to play then do this. Every day play for one hour. EVERY DAY. Do not take a day off (if you can). Play whatever guitar happens to be around. Play all of them too. Some days look for opportunities to play more than one hour. Start out with simple scales. Play them for at least a half hour a day. Then play some chords for 15 minutes. Pay attention when you play. Make sure you are doing your best to make everything sound correct. Then play 15 minutes of songs. Make sure you are playing scales for at least 30 minutes EVERY DAY. Eventually learn all twelve major diatonic scales. By the time you learn all twelve keys well, you will be a guitar player. If you want to play more songs, fine, go ahead. But not until you put in at least 30 minutes of scales for that day. The trick is to get in enough work so your muscles begin to develop. As they develop, your ability to play the instrument is not far behind. That is what the scales do. They jump start this process. They provide the necessary work for your hands to develop. This is the basic fundamental that you must change to start to become a guitar player. This is a way to do it. You change through work! If you play two hours of scales a day and a few chords and songs, it will take about three months to become a guitar player. If you play for an hour a day, it will take longer. This is not magic. You get there through work. It starts off hard, it gets easier within a few days. The more time you play each day, the quicker it happens. Try not to pay attention to the many head games that will show up. I don’t know any ways to really learn by just playing a little. It is the work that brings the ability. After six to nine months, you might be able to cut back a little or change your schedule. This big push does not have to last forever. This WILL work for you! Your job is to put in the time, never miss a day and play hard. What is it worth to you? It will work. Honest! Tim Gillespie http://www.eteachingcenter.com/t.htm Visualize Great Music p.s. Don’t judge scales until you have played them for 6 months. Almost everyone that plays them, enjoys it. Your hands will get much stronger.

Response:

Hey guys, I’m looking into starting out with my first bass. A local music store has suggested a Fender Bass Pak (a Squier P-Bass, strap, 15-watt amp, bag, and video), and have one for around $260. Is this a good starter package? I want to play alternative/heavy rock style music. Sorry about the begginer post, I’m sure you guys get tons. I know we do in the mountain bike groups. I appreciate any help! — Matt Wheeler

Response:

> Hey guys, I’m looking into starting out with my first bass. A local > music store has suggested a Fender Bass Pak (a Squier P-Bass, strap, > 15-watt amp, bag, and video), and have one for around $260. Is this a > good starter package? I want to play alternative/heavy rock style > music. Sorry about the begginer post, I’m sure you guys get tons. I > know we do in the mountain bike groups. I appreciate any help! > — > Matt Wheeler