Question:
I just started playing my electric guitar like a month ago. And so far I learned the basic chords like C,G,G7 and D7. I'm still a little confused when it comes to reading tabs. But I think I'm getting it. Does anyone have any advice for me?? Anything at all.
Thanks
Answer:
Find motivation somewhere. Otherwise you'll give it up.
Answer:
Put God, family, and school first. Then practice, practice, and practice.
Answer:
PERSEVERANCE, MY FRIEND
PERSEVERANCE............
Answer:
Do you have an immediate practice goal that you've set. It sounds like you're starting to learn tab...? Is that something you'd like to be able to do really well? Are you more interested in developing your chord playing/rhythm skills primarily and your scale playing/lead skills second, or the other way around.... Just some thoughts
Nate
Answer:
Welcome to the wonderful world of guitar! A few tips for you

1. Learn to play cleanly. In chords, this means every string rings out with no buzzing. Strings that shouldn't ring out, don't. For soloing, use your right-hand palm (assuming you're right-handed) to mute the lower, thicker strings, which love to ring out.

2. If it hurts, STOP! TENDINITIS TAKES A WHILE TO HEAL!

3. Stay relaxed. Once you start playing faster, you tense up. Work on making relaxed motions.

4. Hit the strings with your fingertips, not with the "mush" of the finger.

5. Keep the fingers within about a half inch of the fretboard. Smaller movements is better.

Bienvenidos!

Maybe we should start a sticky beginner's thread.
Answer:
Originally Posted by jesusfreak_33 I just started playing my electric guitar like a month ago. And so far I learned the basic chords like C,G,G7 and D7. I'm still a little confused when it comes to reading tabs. But I think I'm getting it. Does anyone have any advice for me?? Anything at all.
Thanks
Bassically along the same lines as what the others said.
Find a motivation: Something to work towards that you want to accomplish. Set your first goal small, reach it, and then set another harder one. Keep finding reasons to keep going.
Be patient: The guitar is one of those instruments that is easy to learn once you learn to get the feel of the instrument. Tho, learning to get a good feel for the guitar is the hard part, and can leave you frustrated alot of times. Be patient, once you get past the hardest part of learning the instrument, it gets easier (not easy, just easier), and alot more rewarding.
Practice: Practice alot, especially when you are just starting out. Find as much time as you can to practice, and to study what ever materials you have on hand to help yourself. Try to assign times to practice.
Have fun: Regardless of how much you know, it possible to have fun. Even with just those 4 chords its possible to make a varriety of cool sounds and feels. Have fun with those, and try to incorporate different things into them slowly.
Different flavors: The more chords you learn try to combine them all in different ways to make different flavors. This is another part of having fun, but its also a good way to start on improv, which is really important in playing any instrument.
Relaxation: If you cant relax when you are playing, or after playing you may find yourself in trouble. Carpal tunnel is probably the worst that could happen. Learn wrist, arm, and finger relaxation techniques. I myself have mild carpel tunnel, and I have learned to stop playing when my wrist and hand starts to bother me. Prefferably tho, you should stop and rest before you reach the point of discomfort.
Find information resources: Find different sources of information. Dont rely on just one. The more resources you have available the better off you will be. Also, it helps if they all agree with each other. Expirament with the things that each source says and find out what works for you. One of the best thing you can do is find a friend who also plays guitar, prefferably one that knows more than you do and ask them to help you out. That will be the most valuable resource you will be able to find. Even if this person only knows 1 more chord than you, they will still be a very valuable source for learning.
And most of all: Dont give up. This is a part of being patient. Learning guitar is frustrating. Getting all the different techniques, and things like that down take time, and often are frustrating to learn the first time. Dont give up when you hit a wall, find ways to overcome what ever problems you come across.
Answer:
Thamks you guys!! I really appreciate it, oh and, Jenacen, I am left handed. But I still get it.
Answer:
A couple other things I would recomend:
1)Buy a metronome and use it!
-it is important to learn to keep tempo, and rhythm
-and, it will help you develope your chops
2)Take some lessons, or at least talk to or jam with some guys who play who can help you
-This will save you some headaches down the road believe me! talk to someone who can show you the proper techniques and it will help you a lot.
I taught myself to play without ever taking a lesson, but it was a LONG process and I regret not taking lessons to at least learn the basics. I would consider myself a proficient player now, but I went through a lot of periods of long tedious practice trying to re-learn techniques I had learned wrong! such as when I couldn't get my 16th notes over 100bpm and discovered alternate picking (I'd been playing with all down strokes before )
Find someone who can help you get it right the first time.
Where do you live?
Answer:
In Santa Barbara, California
Answer:
Originally Posted by jesusfreak_33 In Santa Barbara, California
Darn, if you were in Colorado, I'd offer to give you some free lessons...
If you're interested I could look into what teachers might be available in that area. Or give you info on some other resources (books and such) to help.
Tell me more about what you want to learn. Are there any questions that you've come across so far? any specific advice that would be helpful to you right now?
Answer:
I've been learning guitar for 1 year and nearly 3 months. The thing I did was practice everyday. People say practice practice practice, and I totally agree with them. Now I'm on the worship team of my church.
I started on the acoustic, untill 3 months ago, I got my strat from Japan.
I find playing the guitar is great for personal worship with God.
Answer:
Sort of along the lines of what metropolis said about learning things correctly the first time.
Go slow when learning new techniques. Even when it gets really frustrating going slow, just be patient. If you learn how to do something the wrong way it takes forever to relearn how to do it correctly.
Ive been playing nearly 2 years, and there are things that I got wrong 2 years ago, and turned them into habits. Now I am still trying to fix some of those things.
So take some time now to learn things correctly, and you will avoid issues later on that will slow down, or halt your learning/playing all together.
Answer:
Originally Posted by jesusfreak_33 I just started playing my electric guitar like a month ago. And so far I learned the basic chords like C,G,G7 and D7. I'm still a little confused when it comes to reading tabs. But I think I'm getting it. Does anyone have any advice for me?? Anything at all.
Thanks
Get Fretboard Logic SE and read it cover to cover.
Answer:
Originally Posted by WorshipJesus Put God, family, and school first. Then practice, practice, and practice. I'll just correct that , Put God, family first, then practise practise.