Calling all guitarists.

[Slime]

Hi people.
I'm interested in learning to play guitar as I have recently been given on in lieu of a small debt.
The thing is this ................ I'm currently unemployed and would therefore need to be self taught, if that's possible.
Would that be from books, CD's, DVD's, internet ........... or is it a case of wait until I can pay for lessons.
The guitar I got is this one;






Slime.

 

[stevie_r]

Nice, Epiphone are a good brand.

I tried teaching myself from books etc and found it so difficult that my guitars are now very nice ornaments. I can play along to a fair few tunes on Guitarpro, play a few intros and solos but that's about it, very frustrating.

Do you not have a mate that plays a bit then can get you started?

 

[BFL]

I taught myself from bools and youtube. I do feel though a lesson would help now as im only at a certain stage and finding it hard to progress any further. I do however think you should teach the basics to yourself and then pay money to progress.

 

[CMAC]

I tried books and you only get so far without being disheartened, I signed up for 6 mths of once a week lessons on the classical guitar which showed me tips and tested techniques I didnt fully understand from just a book. I came on leaps and bounds, impressing friends with some 'amazing chords and finger play' ooeerr missus:smirk:

Carried on till my fingers bled (literally) and within 3 months of finishing the lessons and practicing everyday I thought, sod this for a laugh, stuck it in a cupboard, sold it 3 months later and I am now a happier person

 

[In_The_Rough]

Playing musical instruments is as frustrating as golf almost. Looks easy but is far from it. I play the Drums and it is a tough as old boots to get any good. Lessons to get you started would be my advice and then practice. Good luck as the satisfaction you get when you can put a tune together or beat in my case is brilliant

 

[MegaSteve]

As many others did, back in the day before the t'internet, brother learnt the basics from Bert Weedon books... Then spent every spare minute mastering it... He still plays everyday 30+ years on...

 

[Sharktooth]

Just start with rhythm and learn G, C & D chords until you get a feel for it and move on from there. Practice, practice. I'm self taught, as are most folk...

 

[SocketRocket]

I have been playing on and off for around 50 years. I decided to learn Classical and took lessons for around 5 years, once I became proficient in reading music I was able to move on and play many different styles.

Thats a nice Les Paul lookeylikey Epiphone that will need an amplifier but you will be able to get a tune out of it as-is. There are some good beginner books that teach you simple chords and put them to a number of well known songs. Try a few of these, they are not expensive, just practice the simple chord changes and enjoy singing along and enjoying yourself. If you want to be a serious player its a long term committment a bit like Golf but start out simple.

 

[stevie_r]

Thats a nice Les Paul lookeylikey Epiphone

Time for a good argument it isn't a Les Paul lookeylikey, It's a Les Paul, made by Epiphone, a subsidiary of Gibson. Lookeylikeys are the Les Paul shaped things you buy from Argos for 60 quid or from a multitude of Chinese retailers on ebay.

Epiphone instruments are of excellent quality, the difference between their quality and Gibson's quality is significantly less than the respective price tags would suggest.

 

[SocketRocket]

Time for a good argument it isn't a Les Paul lookeylikey, It's a Les Paul, made by Epiphone, a subsidiary of Gibson. Lookeylikeys are the Les Paul shaped things you buy from Argos for 60 quid or from a multitude of Chinese retailers on ebay.

Epiphone instruments are of excellent quality, the difference between their quality and Gibson's quality is significantly less than the respective price tags would suggest.

You are correct Stevie. I just take it that the Gibson Les paul is the de facto model. Nothing at all wrong with Epiphone , I have a very nice roundback Epiphone and love it.

 

[stevie_r]

You are correct Stevie. I just take it that the Gibson Les paul is the de facto model. Nothing at all wrong with Epiphone , I have a very nice roundback Epiphone and love it.

 

[SocketRocket]

I also have a Gretsch Electromatic that resembles that one.

 

[stevie_r]

I also have a Gretsch Electromatic that resembles that one.

Gretsch are nice!!!

It was a standard epi dot, I wanted a bigsby on it but managed to get hold of the epi vibratrem that had come of an alleykat or wildkat or something and fitted it myself. The custom made badge was knocked up at a key cutting place and is just there to cover up the old tailpiece mounting holes.

 

[SocketRocket]

Gretsch are nice!!!

It was a standard epi dot, I wanted a bigsby on it but managed to get hold of the epi vibratrem that had come of an alleykat or wildkat or something and fitted it myself. The custom made badge was knocked up at a key cutting place and is just there to cover up the old tailpiece mounting holes.

Yes, mine has a Bigsby. Still trying to play some Chet Atkins on it but no one picks like Chet.

 

[chrisd]

I've never really tried to play a guitar, although I own one as well as a sax which I found monstrously difficult and both are now in the loft. I have owned good pianos, as in Clavinovas, and now have a decent Yamaha Tyros 3 keyboard which I can sight read music well enough to play sort of ok. I'm trying to play some boogie piano but that's hard work.

It's the same for you I guess mate, as is golf. You can go so far on your own, reading books and watching Utube but good basics are often best learned from a one to one music lesson, so when funds allow, half a dozen lessons would really help I think.

Best of luck, I know that playing something musical is hugely rewarding!

 

[hamshanker]

Ive got an acoustic and self taught not brilliant but can play few tunes,get chords and words from Ultimate guitar and then listen to covers and tutorials on You Tube and take it from there....

 

[SaintHacker]

Have a look at www.justinguitar.com its a brilliant site for players of all abilities. Although I would say its definitely worth getting yourself a few lessons early on, just to stop you falling into too many bad habits which will hinder your progress later on.

 

[Stegsie]

I am completly self taught. Tried first of all with books etc, but paying "Michael row the boat ashore" really wasnt my bag, mi found I lost interest very quickly. When the good old Internet came along I found the chords and tabs for some songs I liked (oasis, Paul weller etc) and I took it from there. 15 years later and I am still playing! A great way to de stress.

I have some bad habits with it, however, and don't know any musical theory - something I am now revisiting.

I've also recently started playing the ukulele, again using YouTube etc. love it!

 

[stevie_r]

Either Guitarpro or tuxguitar on your pc are useful, and quite fun as well.

 

[SatchFan]

I've been playing for over 30 years. Wish I had the amount of tuition material that is available now back when I started. As already mentioned YouTube is a great place to start for freebie lessons. If you want to buy tuition DVDs one of the best places is www.licklibrary.com. They have over 450 titles covering most styles and ability levels. Danny Gill is a really good teacher for beginners particularly if you want to learn rock/blues/heavy metal.