PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
I know nothing about the subject but one if my favourite guitarists, Nils Lofgren, offers tuition on his website. Just google the name.
Online guitar tuition - any recommendations?
- Thread starter Dan B
- Start date
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threebikesmcginty
Corn Fed Hick...
- Location
- ...on the slake
Cletus Van Damme
Previously known as Cheesney Hawks
- Location
- Out in the sticks...
Maybe you should also take the guitar to a shop to get it setup. I do not know how good an instrument it is, but if it has been sitting for a long time it may need some adjustments, truss rod, intonation etc. I reckon that a well setup instrument is much better to play. Having said that I have been unlucky with every electric guitar I have bought as they have all required a fret dress. I guess thats the main hazard of buying low"ish" budget instruments off the internet or probably cheaper guitars in general.
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
to my mind a really well set up cheap guitar often sounds better than a poorly set up £2000 guitar.
It never ceaes to amaze me how many guitar shops sell expensive guitars and refuse to include a proper set up. Factory set ups are generally not much cop. Getting the action, intonation, neck relief, fret dress etc spot on is key.Once done don't go changing your string guage when you fit new strings..stick to the guage (and brand) that the guitar was set up for...so make that decision before you pay for a set up! My suggestion would be to avoid the temptation to fit light guage strings like 0.08's...they only last ten minutes and play like elastic bands..go for a standard guage to start with at least..0.09's or 0.10's. Old rusty dead strings will bugger up you intonation and sound BAD. Buy a job lot of strings from an online provider (cheaper) and change them as needed making sure you stretch them in properly.
Playing a badly set up guitar as a beginner who knows no different is one of the reasons why many beginners give up, blaming themselves often instead of a poor instrument. If you are serious about learning then get your guitar set up properly.
Getting your ideal tone is often a lifelong quest for many. It is important that you have a playable tone. To many beginners are sold cheap rubbish transistor practice amps as part of a 'beginners package deal'. They sound and play HORRID and can easily in my opinion put people off as they fail to get the tone they want. Ideally a full tube head with a cabinet loaded with celestion vintage 30's or greenbacks (expensive)...is a good guide. Failing that and if you want to play at bedroom level (which I do most of the time) get a simple line 6 pod amp sim...dirt cheap on Ebay. Ok it's not valves but it sounds superb for the money if you tweak it right...and it doesnt piss off the neighbours!
Endless FX etc are fun but don't be foole dinto thinking they are what makes your tone in isolation. The single biggest factor in your tone is your fingers, your mind and in my case anyway, choice of plectrum. Even after 35 years of this I still practice 80% of the time with the guitar not plugged into anything.
Above all dont run before you can walk. Get the basic foundations in place. Simple chords, basic scales, synchronization between right and left hands, timing.
It never ceaes to amaze me how many guitar shops sell expensive guitars and refuse to include a proper set up. Factory set ups are generally not much cop. Getting the action, intonation, neck relief, fret dress etc spot on is key.Once done don't go changing your string guage when you fit new strings..stick to the guage (and brand) that the guitar was set up for...so make that decision before you pay for a set up! My suggestion would be to avoid the temptation to fit light guage strings like 0.08's...they only last ten minutes and play like elastic bands..go for a standard guage to start with at least..0.09's or 0.10's. Old rusty dead strings will bugger up you intonation and sound BAD. Buy a job lot of strings from an online provider (cheaper) and change them as needed making sure you stretch them in properly.
Playing a badly set up guitar as a beginner who knows no different is one of the reasons why many beginners give up, blaming themselves often instead of a poor instrument. If you are serious about learning then get your guitar set up properly.
Getting your ideal tone is often a lifelong quest for many. It is important that you have a playable tone. To many beginners are sold cheap rubbish transistor practice amps as part of a 'beginners package deal'. They sound and play HORRID and can easily in my opinion put people off as they fail to get the tone they want. Ideally a full tube head with a cabinet loaded with celestion vintage 30's or greenbacks (expensive)...is a good guide. Failing that and if you want to play at bedroom level (which I do most of the time) get a simple line 6 pod amp sim...dirt cheap on Ebay. Ok it's not valves but it sounds superb for the money if you tweak it right...and it doesnt piss off the neighbours!
Endless FX etc are fun but don't be foole dinto thinking they are what makes your tone in isolation. The single biggest factor in your tone is your fingers, your mind and in my case anyway, choice of plectrum. Even after 35 years of this I still practice 80% of the time with the guitar not plugged into anything.
Above all dont run before you can walk. Get the basic foundations in place. Simple chords, basic scales, synchronization between right and left hands, timing.
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
To echo what bigonabianchi said a cheap instrument set up properly will sound better then an expensive one setup badly.
however there is a few proviso's to this. some instruments are built without adjustable parts, i.e. acoustic guitars. the bridge is fixed and only by replacing the bridge piece can you alter the intonation of a guitar or the action.
mid priced acoustics usually work out fine and once tuned should last you a lifetime as your "beater"
if your going electric get it to a shop and have them set it up and clean the pots, leccy's that have been sat a while tend to go crackly, this is the contacts in the dials and the 1/4" jack, its just oxidisation usually and can be cleaned. If you don't want to annoy the neighbours pick up a headphone amp "flyspeck" and jam away to yourself, these come with external audio input so you can play cd's through it and play along etc. and don't be afraid to get some beginners books, the grade books with cd are actually quite good and teach you some basics.
some home truths: there will always be someone better then you, understand that and play for fun.
you will hit plateau's in learning the guitar where you feel you're just not getting anywhere, you're not advancing. then one day if you keep at it you'll find you were worrying over nothing after all because now you can play that riff and a newer more challenging one has reared its head.
if you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry put down the guitar and back away... go for a cuppa/cycle/run/vigourous afternoon in bed with your other half then come back later. that bit you were stuck on you'll probably find you can now do because you're not overthinking it.
above all, have fun!
however there is a few proviso's to this. some instruments are built without adjustable parts, i.e. acoustic guitars. the bridge is fixed and only by replacing the bridge piece can you alter the intonation of a guitar or the action.
mid priced acoustics usually work out fine and once tuned should last you a lifetime as your "beater"
if your going electric get it to a shop and have them set it up and clean the pots, leccy's that have been sat a while tend to go crackly, this is the contacts in the dials and the 1/4" jack, its just oxidisation usually and can be cleaned. If you don't want to annoy the neighbours pick up a headphone amp "flyspeck" and jam away to yourself, these come with external audio input so you can play cd's through it and play along etc. and don't be afraid to get some beginners books, the grade books with cd are actually quite good and teach you some basics.
some home truths: there will always be someone better then you, understand that and play for fun.
you will hit plateau's in learning the guitar where you feel you're just not getting anywhere, you're not advancing. then one day if you keep at it you'll find you were worrying over nothing after all because now you can play that riff and a newer more challenging one has reared its head.
if you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry put down the guitar and back away... go for a cuppa/cycle/run/vigourous afternoon in bed with your other half then come back later. that bit you were stuck on you'll probably find you can now do because you're not overthinking it.
above all, have fun!
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
totally agree wit melonfish..cool post mate!
U
User169
Guest
Does he show you how to do back-flips at the same time?
Thanks all, I will look into the links you've posted. Never previously had much success with finding good stuff on youtube -always seemed to be slow, badly shot or too fuzzy to work out what was going on - but somehow today it's coming up with the goods.
I believe it's a respectable instrument: 1990s "Made in Japan" Fender Strat. I will see if I can get it set up or at least looked at: it was bought from a reputable dealer for what difference that makes, so hopefully there is nothing truly expensive wrong with it. There is some fret wear, though I don't know how much is normal/OK/unacceptable.
Ten minutes random noodling with youtube video accompaniment reminds me I may need to take it gently for a while until I get the callouses back.
I believe it's a respectable instrument: 1990s "Made in Japan" Fender Strat. I will see if I can get it set up or at least looked at: it was bought from a reputable dealer for what difference that makes, so hopefully there is nothing truly expensive wrong with it. There is some fret wear, though I don't know how much is normal/OK/unacceptable.
Ten minutes random noodling with youtube video accompaniment reminds me I may need to take it gently for a while until I get the callouses back.
WilliamsMcLaren
Regular
- Location
- Wiltshire
As long as there's not a lot of 'buzzing' coming from the strings then fret wear shouldn't be too much of an issue.
As for learning songs I'd recommend Lick Library, especially the tutorials given by Danny Gill as he explains things in a very easy to understand way.
As for learning songs I'd recommend Lick Library, especially the tutorials given by Danny Gill as he explains things in a very easy to understand way.
pepecat
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Dodging the Buzes in Brum
'Nother self taught one here. No youtube etc for me (didn't exist when I learned!). Old classical guitar and a chord book and i was away. It's not that hard to get / make the chord shapes. Hardest thing is changing between them and getting used to that. Practice, practice, and more practice..... but there WILL always be some one better than you!
If you like it - and stick with it - then you can think about getting a decent (or more decent) guitar. I have a fiarly cheap acoustic (tanglewood), but i love the tone of it so i've not been tempted to get anything more expensive and bronze medium guage strings do fine.
I'm guessing it's possible to teach yourself on an electric guitar - seeing as its less about rhythm / chords than an acoustic.... i guess as long as you learn the scales inside out then you can pick up riffs etc.
If you like it - and stick with it - then you can think about getting a decent (or more decent) guitar. I have a fiarly cheap acoustic (tanglewood), but i love the tone of it so i've not been tempted to get anything more expensive and bronze medium guage strings do fine.
I'm guessing it's possible to teach yourself on an electric guitar - seeing as its less about rhythm / chords than an acoustic.... i guess as long as you learn the scales inside out then you can pick up riffs etc.
Cletus Van Damme
Previously known as Cheesney Hawks
- Location
- Out in the sticks...
I totally agree with this about Danny Gill. I have several Lick Library DVD's and he is definitely the best tutor I have seen on them. Some of the others tutors are poor in comparison.
WilliamsMcLaren
Regular
- Location
- Wiltshire
Yeah I have quite a few Danny Gill DVD's and they're worth every penny. He teaches in a way that's easy for beginners to understand but isn't patronising to more experienced guitarists. As far as I can remember he was taught by Joe Satriani, the same guy that taught Kirk Hammett from Metallica and Steve Vai.
growingvegetables
Guru
- Location
- Leeds
Another one who taught himself here.
+1 on Guitarpro.
+1 on .......... doesn't need to be a teacher, as such, but make damn sure you play with other people as often as you can? Great for developing a good "ear", picking up bits and pieces, "show me how you did that", building technique and comfort with playing with/for others ........ and just making music.
Dunno - maybe I'm showing my age, but music should be at least as much social, as learning and practice in a wee room with DVDs, and Youtubes, and tabs?
+1 on Guitarpro.
+1 on .......... doesn't need to be a teacher, as such, but make damn sure you play with other people as often as you can? Great for developing a good "ear", picking up bits and pieces, "show me how you did that", building technique and comfort with playing with/for others ........ and just making music.
Dunno - maybe I'm showing my age, but music should be at least as much social, as learning and practice in a wee room with DVDs, and Youtubes, and tabs?
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
is a perfectly fine guitar...not the creme de la creme but a cool workhorse...frets should be rounded..you dont want to be seeing flat tops...but it really shouldnt be such a big deal at this point.
3chordguitar.com is pretty good. Lots of nice easy tunes and will encourage you to learn your chords.
Its pretty easy to try to learn tune by tune but it won't necessarily teach you how to play the guitar well.
I think first thing you should be doing is learning two or three chords and trying to alternate playing those chords faster and faster until it is second nature, and then learn a few more chords and then try alternating between them and the others as fast as you can.
This should teach you how to generally jam to any music and give you that ear you need to detect what to play and when to play it.
Like everything, it just takes practice.
you can download a free guitar tuner on to your pc called ap tuner, it uses the pc microphone to detect the notes and how far out you are with the tuning.
Its pretty easy to try to learn tune by tune but it won't necessarily teach you how to play the guitar well.
I think first thing you should be doing is learning two or three chords and trying to alternate playing those chords faster and faster until it is second nature, and then learn a few more chords and then try alternating between them and the others as fast as you can.
This should teach you how to generally jam to any music and give you that ear you need to detect what to play and when to play it.
Like everything, it just takes practice.
you can download a free guitar tuner on to your pc called ap tuner, it uses the pc microphone to detect the notes and how far out you are with the tuning.
