Learning to play Electric Guitar

Hi Steve,

Its just like learning to type all over again, isn't it.

Seems to have been quite a lot of interest in playing guitar here over the last few months, which can only be a good thing I think.

Five seconds to change fingering - so Alex Lifeson doesn't have to worry much for a while then??

Now I'll just have to dust mine off and have a twang.

Enjoy!

Rich.

Rich,

Funny you should mention the typing as I sit here typing whilst just staring at the screen and not at the keyboad.

That is 5 seconds to work out where the next fret is and the string to place one single finger! It's an improvement on the previous night, that was taking 10-15 seconds per change.

I don't think any musician however appaling has anything to worry about at the moment!

So, we could have the Naim Audio Forum Cacaphony String orchestra at some point?

Should be interesting to see what progress I make on a weekly basis - possibly inflicting excerpts of my attempts to play? Or possibly a new topic where everyone posts excerpts?

Steve.

Hi Steve,

Excerpts might be a little much at this point in the adventure!!

Though any method of keeping the urge to slog alive would be welcome - it is certainly fun playing guitar but my playing died (fell into a coma, at least) years ago under pressure from the rest of my life/career and under from lack of nourishment and encouragement.

The NAFF* Cacophony String Orchestra sounds about the right antidote! (*I added the second F, for Friends')

Your practice and patience will be rewarded - I was chatting about guitar playing/learning whilst having a beer or three with Allan Holdsworth a mere 13 years ago and his advice was 'Just stick at it'. So there are no shortcuts for anyone.

Enjoy!

Rich

P.S. I'll expect you to have La Villa Strangiato down pat by Christmas...

I had a moment of clarity about sixteen months ago when all of a sudden in a early mid life crisis type scenario I decided I really wanted to play guitar. I have to say with all honesty that I have never derived as much pleasure from any pastime as from playing and learning over this last year and a half.

I manage to find between eight and twelve hours a week to play and learn. Literally when I walk in the door from work the first thing I do is head strait for the guitar and have a good thrash. I cannot read music, learn only tabs and chords but in the last six months things have moved on at a pace that I would not have considered possible at xmas.

I am in that happy 'sponge' state where every song with a lovely guitar part that I think I could have a stab at gets found and printed off the internet. Everything from Rickie lee Jones to the chilli peppers and arctic monkeys. I have a pile of song tabs about a foot tall and I love getting my teeth into them whenever possible. All of a sudden I find myself watching in detail the style of every player, live or on the telly.

So far I am self taught although I am getting to the point where a few well placed lessons would help me to understand musical structure and the geography and the position and relationship of notes and scales etc.

The turning point from a reward point of view for me was when I wanted to learn one or two Kings of Lean tunes and thought that perhaps with a lot of paid lessons and hard work I could make that happen. However, instead of using a teacher I printed off six song tab sheets and started trying to unravel the songs. Within a week I could play all six to a listenable standard even if the solos were somewhat shabby (disguised by distortion!). The pleasure of being able to play along uninterrupted to songs I love is immense.

One down side is that I have developed a guitar buying habit which is difficult to temper. Three electrics, an acoustic, a classical and a bass and throw in a fender valve amp for good measure - ouch!

One word - practice! For months my fingers felt disconnected from the rest of me, but slowly they start to do as they are told - at that point you reach base camp and now the rewards can begin. I am a long way from where I want to be but now I have the confidence that, with time and effort I will slowly get there.

Check out the fender getting started on electric dvd. A great teacher, well structured lessons and a good basic understanding. As a bonus try to find somebody better than you who can steer you right now and again. Ten minutes every couple of weeks with my talented mate helps greatly.

Good luck - If you love it half as much as I do you will be like a pig in s...t!

This is an excellent new site. The video lessons are a bit too advanced for complete beginners (I've been a complete beginner for about 20 years now!), but its all free and well worth a look.

http://guitarplayertv.com/

Mike

Excellent site, Mike.

I have a feeling that two things are about to happen:
a) I'll lose my job due to surfing the 'net
b) My guitar playing will improve tremendously

Cheers!

R.

Been practising a bit when I've got time although haven't for a few days.

Last night had a bit of a strum following some instructions in the book I have and also with a track from the cd that came with the book.

I've managed to change chords (following the example in the early chapter I'm on) more quickly than previously though still getting a very low success rate with getting the chord correct first time without ending up with fingers in the wrong place. Sounds terrible but at least it's quicker!

Problem I have at the moment is having the ends of my fingers resting against ajoining strings. I guess I haven't quite got the pressure on the strings right - enough to get a clear note but not enough to extrude onto other strings!

Steve.

Hi again Steve,

I always tried to stay accurate to the correct notes and good sound as a priority and not be overly concerned with speed. (Well, that's what I did when I got some proper lessons after months of trying to play like Eddie Van Halen and getting nowhere). I guess most guitarists have just a bit of a speed freak in them? The speed will come naturally, as a result of being able to make the movements accurately. Then it'll really start coming together...

The skin on your finger tips will harden up with repeated practise, so you'll be less likely to squish onto adjacent strings.

Enjoy!

Rich.

Rich,

Rather than the speed freak thing, I was looking at trying to move my fingers fluidly, finding it a little difficult with flexibility in my figers but hoping if I can get my fingers round abouts in the right place without looking, they will "remember" the placement which will make it easier!

I will give it a go with accuracy over the weekend as I will have a bit more time.

Got a bit of weird tingling in my fingertips and a bit of sensitivity. I know, it'll get better though.

It's been quite fun so far.

Steve.

Hi Steve,

Yep, an hour or so after I posted I thought 'ah - I think he may have meant faster at remembering where everything goes'.

You're on the right track I think, and funny tingly feeling fingers are about right! Accuracy is never a bad thing, all the same.

I'm itching to have a go again, though due to a very nasty scald on my hand (hot weather plus the vagaries of an Italian auto 'cooling' system) I'm having to stay away from taut cheesewire at the moment...

I'm off to a stag do in exotic Swindon this weekend, maybe I'll pop in and see Mick?

Cheers!

R.