How to play the guitar

Posted by: Mick P on 16 April 2006

Chaps

I have just bought a guitar and will be collecting it tomorrow.

I keep meaning to retire but I keep getting asked to stay on for a few more months and so it goes on. This means that taking lessons in the evening is almost impossible as sometimes I do not get home until late.

Are there any good books to teach yourself or even DVDs.

Alternatively is it better to lock the thing away until I actually do retire and then take lessons when time permits.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by Adam Meredith
quote:
Originally posted by Earwicker:
Oh man, I needed a laugh! Adam, please don't delete this priceless post!
EW


I have already moderated it, with arrogance.
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by kuma
quote:
So Kuma, who have you always wanted to say "Fuck off and die" to? C'mon, own up, the whole world wants to know!


Probably more so at the VA or PFM. Smile

p.s. Once I called someone at the VA a mere *idiot*.
We've got a good laugh out of a few scathing private emails from this internet poster.
It was obvious, he's not well.
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by NaimDropper
Jim
quote:
In fact, I would say that in many cases musicians can over analyze and can become fixated on the technique and miss the emotion and the communication that you described.

ABSOLUTELY! I know many musicians that regularly miss the "point" and go for the technique, playing just the notes. Like any artistic endeavor, musicians can become cynical and jaded. Or just ignore what is going on around them!
quote:
I can get off on the emotion and "message" in the music whether I listen on my iPod, car stereo, laptop/speakers or on one of the systems at home.

Careful, now! Adam may moderate it, with arrogance.
Don't admit to experiencing the joy of music without any Naim kit in the mix...
I completely enjoy my iPod in the car with a cassette adapter most days. Sometimes it just doesn't do it for me, and I attribute it to bad petrol...
quote:
(sports) I may have have more insight than most but I would never claim to get more enjoyment then the fans who watch it.

Here's where I think the insight would bring a more complete enjoyment of the event, but I see your point.
Clearly, being a musician doesn’t automatically make you enjoy music any more than not being a musician does. It is my hope that our dear and perceptive Mick will be one who does benefit.
At an amazing musician’s seminar I attended, the instructors asked us to describe the “2 through 10’s” of music with “notes” being the number one thing. In fact, nearly all musical education teaches you “notes” and not many other very important aspects of music. Feeling, rhythms, dynamics, voicings, rests, groove, knowing when to support the melody and when to lead it and many others can be just as important as the notes, sometimes more so.
(This is much of what our video bedroom-guitarist was missing ImhO.)
This is also a one-way street, once you have become a musician you can’t go “back” and see if you enjoy music any more or less. And becoming a musician can take moments or a lifetime, it depends on the individual.
Good discussion, please keep it up!
BTW I live North of Cincinnati. I lived in Naperville back in the middle ‘80s. My how things have changed up there… I passed on buying the condominium I was renting, they wanted $30k and I laughed at them. Very serious mistake on my part…
David
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by u5227470736789439
Seeing this twice now, about practicing musicians being trapped by the technical aspects has set me thinking that I must actually start a thread to counter such a generalisation. As some of you know I was a freelance professional string bass player who had, among other regular jobs, the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Orchestra, and teaching the bass at the Elgar School of Music in the Deansway in Worcester. My left hand is ruined with arthritis. My last proper gig was Haydn's Creation in the Adrian Boult Hall in Brum, but I resigned at the end of the performance I was in such pain...

I can tell anyone interested that some musicians are fixated on the technique and some are persuaded of the need of the technique to enable the emotion to flow! I am in the latter category, and can assure anyone interested that for me playing only deepened my emotional response while listening! Playing could be a very tiring business, for one had to express the emotion through the instrument, and not show it facially or otherwise, and in this respect I always sat there sphinx-like, but the power came through alright!

I shall do the the thread in the Music Room as I think that is the place to start it, but would welcome diverse responses! Next Saturday then, Dear Friends?

All the best from Fredrik
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by joe90
Adam:

quote:
I have already moderated it, with arrogance.


Seriously?

Cmon mate, which bits did you leave out.

I feel I have a right to know (and Steph's location so I can drive round and smash his face in). Big Grin
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by NaimDropper
quote:
I shall do the the thread in the Music Room as I think that is the place to start it, but would welcome diverse responses! Next Saturday then, Dear Friends?

I look forward to that Fredrik!
David
Posted on: 18 April 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
I feel I have a right to know (and Steph's location so I can drive round and smash his face in). Big Grin


Joe

If Steph was a woman, would you be saying "more, more . . . ahhh . . . more, please more!" Big Grin

Steve

PS Steph IS a woman (at least according to her profile)
Posted on: 19 April 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
My left hand is ruined with arthritis. My last proper gig was Haydn's Creation in the Adrian Boult Hall in Brum, but I resigned at the end of the performance I was in such pain...

You have my sympathy. I play the guitar and violin, but I have to be careful now to avoid tendonitis. I have to travel a fair bit with work, which has meant over the past decade I've spent quite long periods out of practice; now, I quickly develop tendon pains when I play.

EW
Posted on: 19 April 2006 by Rockingdoc
Mick

I have been playing (in public) for forty years now, and would have made a much better job of it if I had found the value of a good teacher sooner. It's only an hour a week and will save you years of wasted effort.

I would also recommend an i-pod to listen to the type of music you want to play during your commute. Listening is a big part of learning.
Posted on: 19 April 2006 by joe90
quote:
oe

If Steph was a woman, would you be saying "more, more . . . ahhh . . . more, please more!"

Steve

PS Steph IS a woman (at least according to her profile)
'

Well, this is the era of equal opportunity and equality so she should put up her dukes (dukettes?) and come out fighting! Big Grin
Posted on: 19 April 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Listening is a big part of learning.

It is.

Here're a couple of useful get-you-started websites too:

http://www.cyberfret.com/index.php
http://www.wholenote.com/

There are loads, but those two are good. Wholenote has a useful scale finder too.

EW
Posted on: 19 April 2006 by NaimDropper
Jim-
Once when I was checking out at the local music store with an arm full of eclectic CDs the clerk said to me, "You must be a musician, nobody else would buy that range of music."
I always get a kick out of that story.
David
Posted on: 23 April 2006 by u5227470736789439
quote:
Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
Seeing this twice now, about practicing musicians being trapped by the technical aspects has set me thinking that I must actually start a thread to counter such a generalisation...

I shall do the the thread in the Music Room as I think that is the place to start it, but would welcome diverse responses! Next Saturday then, Dear Friends?

All the best from Fredrik


Dear Friends,

May I give the new Thread - Musians, Technique, and Expression Of Emotion In Music - a bit of a plug here! It may not get off the ground otherwise!

Fredrik. [Low bandwidth smiley].
Posted on: 10 May 2006 by docstocker
Dear Mick.
Try the guitarnoise website for simple lesons, help and advice. Find it through google.
Regards John
Posted on: 10 May 2006 by Rockingdoc
As the thread has been revived. How's it going Shredder Parry?
Posted on: 13 May 2006 by Mick P
For the first time in my life I might admit defeat. It seems to be going nowhere.

What I cannot understand is why I am so bloody useless. Here I am, an ex Mensa member, struggling to get to grips with the bloody thing and yet some old hillbilly hick can pick up a banjo and just play it without batting an eyelid.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 13 May 2006 by Earwicker
There you are you see, it's easy to feel all superior if you don't try to do things that are actually hard!

The problem is - especially for adults - there's no way of using brain power to short-circuit the process of learning to play an instrument; large areas of the barin have to re-wire themselves so that fingers respond appropriately to information from the ears; sounds have to be translated into physical movements.

THe guitar is a relatively easy instrument to learn; learning the violin as an adult is virtually impossible. I remember Anne Sofie Mutter saying that it's because only children can tollerate the necessary repetition and I suspect that's part of it. Plenty of adults learn the guitar to some kind of standard - the physical difficulties are nowhere near as great compared to the violin - and of course it's fretted so you don't have to worry about making the notes.

Keep trying; you won't get anywhere if you can't put in at least half and hour a day. Learn some simple scales along with your chords too - that way you'll hear into chords better and the fingers should also start to free up.

EW
Posted on: 13 May 2006 by NaimDropper
Don't give up, Mick.
Music comes from the soul and is translated through our physical abilities and those of the instrument and media.
You will have to work much harder than a younger person to "get" it. And the hillbilly playing the banjo may have, as a young 'billy, spent many a lazy afternoon chewing on a sprig of hay plucking away.
Music is indeed a form of communication, after many years of listening you are just now learning to "talk".
Imagine that you were at your age but, while having all the facility, had never spoken. Suddenly you are learning how.
EW is correct, the guitar is not THAT hard compared to other instruments. (Actually banjo is rather difficult in comparison!)
Keep at it and don't give up. You'll be rewarded for your efforts in the long run.
David
Posted on: 13 May 2006 by Mick P
Naimdropper

Thank you for your encouragement. I have the feeling that I shall drop down dead before I master the thing.

Suddenly I am realising that there is so much to do and life is so short.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 13 May 2006 by JonR
Mick you're only 57 for heaven's sake!

You're not exactly on your death bed, are you?!

Cheers,

Jon
Posted on: 13 May 2006 by NaimDropper
I've been playing my bass for over 35 years. I'm pretty good at it but will never consider myself a "master".
Those whom I consider masters don't feel that way about themselves either.
(Those that do probably aren't!)
David
Posted on: 14 May 2006 by Mick P
David / Jon

I am renewing my determination to have a go at it. I shall hopefully be having a lot more time on my hands to chew some grass whilst strumming.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 15 May 2006 by Polarbear
Either our Mick is retiring or planning to spend less time on the forums.

Remember every song starts with a pluck!

seriously Mick, give it a go its very relaxing,

Regards

PB
Posted on: 15 May 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Polarbear:
its very relaxing

There's nothing relaxing about a serious attempt to learn a musical instrument!

EW
Posted on: 15 May 2006 by Phil Cork
quote:
Originally posted by Polarbear:

Remember every song starts with a pluck!

PB


And every life starts with a f......

Phil Winker