I've got a Guiiiiitttaaawwww!!!!! - Desmo's Learning Diary

Desmo · 16-09-2007, 20:07

No, not the Guitar Hero type

Every time I come back form a meet and have seen Belmit and Garp playing, I always wish I could. I mentioned this to my mum after the Chester meet and what does she turn up with on my birthday today? ... a guitar

I'm fairly musical really but have never tried to learn an instrument at all. I'd like to teach myself rather than go to lessons as I don't really have the spare time or cash to do that. I think it's something I can do and I've got no excuses now.

I've found a few sites on the net with guides and Leo has pointed me to another good one so I think this is the route I'll take. But I'm happy to listen, pick up tips and take advice from you guys in the know

Just so you know what I've got, it's a Crafter D6-N.

So, off I go on my journey....wish me luck

iCraig · 16-09-2007, 20:14

I'm looking forward to some videos of you playing and Piggymon singing her heart out next to you.

Piggymon · 16-09-2007, 20:17

You so do not want to hear me try and sing

Norky · 16-09-2007, 20:53

Crafter acoustics are fantastic, your mum has taste

Nothing wrong with teaching yourself, just read a few articles on general technique and keep them in mind (learn to use your pinky!)

No real need to learn all the notes etc, just learn to read tabs and learn some chords

www.ultimate-guitar.com is a good start, lots of chords and lessons to work your way through

Garp · 16-09-2007, 20:57

Crafter is a reasonable brand. I quite like their budget stuff, seems to be pretty good build quality in comparison to other entry level stuff.

Get ready because your fingers are gonna hurt like hell for a while. Both Belmit and I have nicely padded fingers on our left hands from holding down the steel strings. Like most folks I never really realised just how much effort is involved until I started playing geeetar

As for teaching myself I started off with worship stuff so I can't really offer much advice from that perspective. I had a worship book that had songs with chords and chord charts above the music. Found a song that had the basic 4 chords in, G, D, C, Em7 and then worked my way up from there

I got rather addicted to the guitar when I first started playing. I used to play for at least 2 - 3 hours a day for probably my first year, then slowly thats gone down.

Will · 16-09-2007, 21:05

That's fantastic. I started to teach myself to play - unfortunately I've let it slide as I didn't have the time and sort of reached a plateau. It's great fun and I know you'll probably be able to get on well with it! Enjoy it!

Chuckles · 16-09-2007, 22:01

Learn the basic chords keep practicing until you can quickly and easily move between them. Once you can do that, learn barre chords and you're pretty much there for being able to sing along to most songs.

There are several stages in learning guitar that are like riding a bike. It suddenly just clicks.

Garp · 16-09-2007, 22:34

Just don't be surprised if it takes you a while to be able to play barré chords (where you lay one finger down across all the strings)

Pebs · 16-09-2007, 22:45

Cooool pressie!

Justsomebloke · 16-09-2007, 22:53

Look up Three chord tricks & Buy a Capo

16-09-2007, 20:07	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	I've got a Guiiiiitttaaawwww!!!!! - Desmo's Learning Diary No, not the Guitar Hero type Every time I come back form a meet and have seen Belmit and Garp playing, I always wish I could. I mentioned this to my mum after the Chester meet and what does she turn up with on my birthday today? ... a guitar I'm fairly musical really but have never tried to learn an instrument at all. I'd like to teach myself rather than go to lessons as I don't really have the spare time or cash to do that. I think it's something I can do and I've got no excuses now. I've found a few sites on the net with guides and Leo has pointed me to another good one so I think this is the route I'll take. But I'm happy to listen, pick up tips and take advice from you guys in the know Just so you know what I've got, it's a Crafter D6-N. So, off I go on my journey....wish me luck __________________

16-09-2007, 20:14	#2
iCraig iCustom User Title Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,250	I'm looking forward to some videos of you playing and Piggymon singing her heart out next to you. __________________

16-09-2007, 20:17	#3
Piggymon Lara Croft Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: PigmoPad - Braintree Essex Posts: 8,604	You so do not want to hear me try and sing __________________ BF% 28/08/08 - 21%

16-09-2007, 20:57	#5
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Crafter is a reasonable brand. I quite like their budget stuff, seems to be pretty good build quality in comparison to other entry level stuff. Get ready because your fingers are gonna hurt like hell for a while. Both Belmit and I have nicely padded fingers on our left hands from holding down the steel strings. Like most folks I never really realised just how much effort is involved until I started playing geeetar As for teaching myself I started off with worship stuff so I can't really offer much advice from that perspective. I had a worship book that had songs with chords and chord charts above the music. Found a song that had the basic 4 chords in, G, D, C, Em7 and then worked my way up from there I got rather addicted to the guitar when I first started playing. I used to play for at least 2 - 3 hours a day for probably my first year, then slowly thats gone down. __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

16-09-2007, 21:05	#6
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	That's fantastic. I started to teach myself to play - unfortunately I've let it slide as I didn't have the time and sort of reached a plateau. It's great fun and I know you'll probably be able to get on well with it! Enjoy it! __________________ *No No!*

16-09-2007, 20:53	#4
Norky Nice weak cup of Earl Grey Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19	Crafter acoustics are fantastic, your mum has taste Nothing wrong with teaching yourself, just read a few articles on general technique and keep them in mind (learn to use your pinky!) No real need to learn all the notes etc, just learn to read tabs and learn some chords www.ultimate-guitar.com is a good start, lots of chords and lessons to work your way through

16-09-2007, 22:01	#7
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	Learn the basic chords keep practicing until you can quickly and easily move between them. Once you can do that, learn barre chords and you're pretty much there for being able to sing along to most songs. There are several stages in learning guitar that are like riding a bike. It suddenly just clicks.

16-09-2007, 22:34	#8
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Just don't be surprised if it takes you a while to be able to play barré chords (where you lay one finger down across all the strings) __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

16-09-2007, 22:45	#9
Pebs Easymouth Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,716	Cooool pressie! __________________ ...faster you naughty little monkey! Running through hell, heaven can wait!

16-09-2007, 22:53	#10
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	Look up Three chord tricks & Buy a Capo __________________