Hints and tips for guitar beginner

[MasterBlaster76]

I just tried out the practice routine:

Free Gutar Lesson - TB-020 ? Beginners Practice Routine

for the first time - it's amazing! After doing that chord practice and one minute changes drill, my changes were so fluent, even compared to just a week ago, and I was making less mistakes as well. Only downside is my hand got more tired because it's not used to changing chords so quickly. Also, if you're not used to using the guitar with a strap, does it take a while before your shoulder gets used to it (my shoulder aches a little afterwards at the moment - nothing serious though).

 

[Dutch]

Looks like a great resource you have found there!

 

[jkartik]

@dutchy - when is the optimum time to switch over to electrics ?

i know there isnt any particular rule or anything but what is your personal opinion on this ?

 

[Dutch]

@dutchy - when is the optimum time to switch over to electrics ?

i know there isnt any particular rule or anything but what is your personal opinion on this ?

Never!

Nah! I am an acoustic man so I don't play much electric! However the electric guitar is much easier to play in terms of hand positions and fingers: neck is narrow, strings have a lighter gage, or thickness, and a tone is produced more by the amplifier and the effects than by the fingers or plectrum. People who have learnt on an electric guitar find it difficult to play acoustically: other way round seems to be less of a problem. If you have the basics down with an acoustic guitar then is the time ripe to go electric!

 

[jkartik]

cool....

how long have ya been playing for ?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I have callouses (at least I think I do!) on all of my fingers except my little finger - the fingering I'm using for chords doesn't involve my little finger, so the only time it gets used is during warm up exercises or some scales. When I do try to play a chord with it, it hurts like the devil! So, how should I go about building callouses on that finger as well? I'll ask my tutor about this next time as well.

 

[Simbazz]

I have callouses (at least I think I do!) on all of my fingers except my little finger - the fingering I'm using for chords doesn't involve my little finger, so the only time it gets used is during warm up exercises or some scales. When I do try to play a chord with it, it hurts like the devil! So, how should I go about building callouses on that finger as well? I'll ask my tutor about this next time as well.

I don't have them on my little finger, but that's just the nature of the way I play, I play mostly 7th chords, but rather than using my last two fingers I simply bar it with my 4th finger. I've had tutors trying to change that, but its the way I do it, rather than change it I'd just rather do it the way I always have.

Some complicated chords need the little finger, but there's possibly 4 songs I know that I need my little finger, even when there's a solo I work it out so I don't use my little finger.

Mainly, I'm just a little too lazy, but to counter that argument I'd say do it in the way that you feel more comfortable.

If you want to get hardened skin on your little finger, then play the 7th chords, they involve them.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Most of the time, when I see acoustic guitarists playing sitting down, they play without the strap, but I just find it more comfortable to have the guitar at an angle all the time - without a footstall, because that gets uncomfortable after a while, so I wear the strap whether standing or sitting. Am I an oddball, or should I play this way if that's what's comfortable?

I clocked my chord changes yesterday - 41 per minute (during 1 min speed changes drill). I'm following this routine on Justin's site - 5 mins strum, pick each individual note, strum - 5 mins chord changes drill as fast as possible, five different combos and 5 mins playing simple three chord songs. Progress is good!

 

[Simbazz]

As with your technique, whatever you find comfortable.

Personally, I don't use a strap, well I did when I was in a band as it'd be foolish not to, but if I was sat down, I found it easier to play without the restrictions of a strap. You kinda learn to pull the guitar back into place whilst strumming after a while.

Have you had a play around with any accessories you can get for the guitar? Capo?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

As with your technique, whatever you find comfortable.

Personally, I don't use a strap, well I did when I was in a band as it'd be foolish not to, but if I was sat down, I found it easier to play without the restrictions of a strap. You kinda learn to pull the guitar back into place whilst strumming after a while.

Have you had a play around with any accessories you can get for the guitar? Capo?

Nope, not yet.

 

[Simbazz]

Nope, not yet.

Ahhh, the endless fun you can have with a capo, not to mention open up much more songs to you without having to tune your guitar to ridiculous places.

Speaking guitars makes me miss the band environment, DAMN UNI! Come summer I am getting back involved!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Rock on!!!!

 

[jkartik]

Most of the time, when I see acoustic guitarists playing sitting down, they play without the strap, but I just find it more comfortable to have the guitar at an angle all the time - without a footstall, because that gets uncomfortable after a while, so I wear the strap whether standing or sitting. Am I an oddball, or should I play this way if that's what's comfortable?

I clocked my chord changes yesterday - 41 per minute (during 1 min speed changes drill). I'm following this routine on Justin's site - 5 mins strum, pick each individual note, strum - 5 mins chord changes drill as fast as possible, five different combos and 5 mins playing simple three chord songs. Progress is good!

i can do around 50-53 changes per minute.can play the F Barre chord very comfortably...just having a hard time implementing it in the changes...

but am trying my best to get through the basics (without sacrificing quality)
so that i can switch to the electrics.
the thing is am more of a rock and blues guy.love to play solos and other licks on the electric guitar and the sound that it produces is just too good.

another reason being my acoustic doesnt have that cut in the end. so its extremely difficult to play beyond the 15th fret and technically impossible beyond the 17th fret.not to mention my guitar is a cheap asian make and theres so much gap between the frets and the strings that you can land an airbus 380 in between ! :doh

 

[pcfan123]

Sounds like the guitar has a really high action, that with the lack of a cutaway can make it tough to play rock/blues scales.

You don't need to learn the basics on an acoustic before you switch to an electric. If anything, an electric is easier to play and much more forgiving for sloppy guitar play

 

[Dutch]

i can do around 50-53 changes per minute.can play the F Barre chord very comfortably...just having a hard time implementing it in the changes...

but am trying my best to get through the basics (without sacrificing quality)
so that i can switch to the electrics.
the thing is am more of a rock and blues guy.love to play solos and other licks on the electric guitar and the sound that it produces is just too good.

another reason being my acoustic doesnt have that cut in the end. so its extremely difficult to play beyond the 15th fret and technically impossible beyond the 17th fret.not to mention my guitar is a cheap asian make and theres so much gap between the frets and the strings that you can land an airbus 380 in between ! :doh

You sure?? The A380 is a pretty big plane! One of the basic requirements of Gypsy Jazz is strong rhythm playing. This means being able to implement quite tricky chord changes at high speed: some Gypsy Jazz numbers are 300 bpm. I practice chord changes with a metronome. The idea is to change a chord on each beat. Once into gear I can succesfully change chords at those speeds consistently: has taken me two years of solid daily practice though.