Hints and tips for guitar beginner

[Simbazz]

I don't think I've hit the wall yet, but as I said, changes between barre chords are taking time to become fluent. Fingerpicking is a different story, I reckon at this rate, it'll be fluent within the next few weeks.

Thats great news. Fingerpicking is one of my favourite things to do on a guitar, but that probably stems from the bass guitar.

Ever thought about moving onto other instruments in time?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

If you mean electric guitars, then that's a distinct possibility; even bass could come into it in the future, as well as other acoustic guitars of course. There will always be a special place in my heart for my Eastwood, but in time, I want to get a really good acoustic.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

The changes between barre chords are really taking their time to become fluent. I should ask my tutor about this, but I keep forgetting, especially as we're concentrating on fingerpicking right now. Any of you guys got any tips about that?

 

[Simbazz]

The changes between barre chords are really taking their time to become fluent. I should ask my tutor about this, but I keep forgetting, especially as we're concentrating on fingerpicking right now. Any of you guys got any tips about that?

What is it specifically you're having trouble with?

Personally, I had trouble with getting each string to ring through nicely, and I still sometimes get a bit of it when using acoustic guitar because of the nature of how much pressure the acoustic needs on it to ring nicely.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

What is it specifically you're having trouble with?

Personally, I had trouble with getting each string to ring through nicely, and I still sometimes get a bit of it when using acoustic guitar because of the nature of how much pressure the acoustic needs on it to ring nicely.

Actually, I'm not having that much trouble getting clear sounding barre chords most of the time, no - it's the changes between barre chords - they're taking a long time to become fluent and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to improve matters.

 

[Simbazz]

The beauty of the barre chord is that you're fingers generally stay in the same position, so that helps. I tend to not use my little finger if I can help it and just use my index and ring finger to barre

Like anything with guitar, there isn't a quick answer, its just practise.

 

[jkartik]

finally got some free time last week...

tried my hand at the intro of Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix.
check it out...

 

[MasterBlaster76]

The beauty of the barre chord is that you're fingers generally stay in the same position, so that helps. I tend to not use my little finger if I can help it and just use my index and ring finger to barre

Like anything with guitar, there isn't a quick answer, its just practise.

True. I think they're beginning to come now, but they're still nowhere near fluid yet. Fingerpicking on the other hand is going swimmingly - any one got some 'basic' fingerpicking suggestions, other than Blackbird?

Also into power chords now, so Smoke on the Water was of course on the menu along with some Kings of Leon stuff.

finally got some free time last week...

tried my hand at the intro of Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix.
check it out...

Nice.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Sorry, can't help you. Nice guitar though - I'd love to have a black acoustic one day, with the cutaway.

I've been taking lessons (once a month) since January and I'm now thinking of going it alone - it's not that my teacher isn't good, he is - it's more a case of the money factor right now. The thing I'm a bit worried about is how to progress from there - one great thing about having a tutor is they give you a tailored structure.

 

[Chewie]

My frets on my guitar are out of tune.

I tune my guitar open and it's all nicely in tune, but then when I play notes higher up the fretboard they are out of tune. Is it likely because the strings are old? Or is there some other reason? (i.e. that thing at the other end of the strings). I know very little about how guitars work...

My strings haven't been changed since I bought the guitar, but I don't use it too much. I got it like 3 years ago and play maybe once a month? More in the holidays and less during the semester.

 

[Simbazz]

My frets on my guitar are out of tune.

I tune my guitar open and it's all nicely in tune, but then when I play notes higher up the fretboard they are out of tune. Is it likely because the strings are old? Or is there some other reason? (i.e. that thing at the other end of the strings). I know very little about how guitars work...

My strings haven't been changed since I bought the guitar, but I don't use it too much. I got it like 3 years ago and play maybe once a month? More in the holidays and less during the semester.

Most likely the strings then, can't imagine they're in the best way after 3 years! I can't see the neck being warped if you've hardly played it, and its kept in a dry place.

 

[Chewie]

Cheers for that advice I thought it could have been those things that hold the strings in at the other end. I'll have to go get some new strings

 

[Hitterman]

My frets on my guitar are out of tune.

I tune my guitar open and it's all nicely in tune, but then when I play notes higher up the fretboard they are out of tune. Is it likely because the strings are old? Or is there some other reason? (i.e. that thing at the other end of the strings). I know very little about how guitars work...

My strings haven't been changed since I bought the guitar, but I don't use it too much. I got it like 3 years ago and play maybe once a month? More in the holidays and less during the semester.

If you haven't taken care of your guitar then it might have ended in a C Curve on the fretboard. This is because when you leave the strings tighten up without playing it for a month. If you aren't going to play for a month or so then you should loosen the string .

Try adjusting the bridge (if it is adjustable).

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I'm now going it alone with guitar. I've bought an Intermediate Fingerstyle book with about 15 songs and am working my way through that.

Barre chords are still not fluent though - can get frustrating!

 

[Dutch]

Hi Steve...all's well I hope? What kind of tunes are in the book? Bar chords are essential stuff for electic guitar but are not that neccessary whet it comes to acoustic guitar, especially fingerpicking of course....