I think I want to learn to play the guitar

[Burninator]

I've been thinking about it recently and I thought I would use the vast knowledge of CP to help me out. I am sure we have a bunch of guitar players here. But bare in mind that I don't know a lot of guitar talk or terminology.

What do I need to buy?
I was thinking of those guitar packages that Axe or Guitar Works sells that has a guitar, bag, amp, stand, etc. Is the route I should start at? And how much should I be looking to spend?

How should I learn?
Personal lessons once a week or is there a computer program I can use. I don't think Guitar Hero's has helped me (no surprise).

How long should I expect to play before I am not terrible?
I am sure it depends person to person, what roughly what should I expect? A month or six before I can play a song. Six months to a year before I can shred? Just looking for an estimate.

Anything else I should know?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by fotze

And if the world does turn, and if London burns
I'll be standing on a beach with my guitar
I want to be in a band, when I get to heaven
Anyone can play guitar

I was going to post the same thing!

If I was starting out, I would begin with an acoustic guitar (maybe $500 for a pretty good guitar). Take some lessons or download guitar tabs from the internet (you don't have to read music):

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/tab.html

A friend is in a band and teaches classes Saturdays at a music store in SW Calgary. I wouldn't spend a bunch of $ on electric gear at this point.

Some songs are so easy, you will be playing them around the campfire this summer. If you want to solo and play leads, practice, practice, practice.

[doozwimp]

I've boycotted Axe, which is too bad because they really are the best place to go. Sales manager is a jackass. Wanted me to pay (75$) to fix what wasnt broke in the first place. All I needed was someone in staff to take a look at the expensive machine and tell me that.







I'm still steamed

[Reggie Dunlop]

I'm still a beginner and I stayed away from the everything-included package deals. You get what you pay for with those: A cheap log that never stays in tune. If the thing doesn't sound decent, you'll be frustrated and maybe not as inclined to practise. They also hold little resale value if you decide to upgrade in th future.

You get a quality guitar on a budget, even going the used route. You can always add the bag, stand, etc. down the road.

[kermitology]

Getting a cheap acoutsic is probably the best idea if you're not sure if you'll stick with it. Otherwise, just a cheap electric and practice amp. Get better before you spend money on a guitar.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Don't get an acoustic if your heart is set on an electric. Might as well start out with something you want rather than compromise.

[Burninator]

Good advice so far guys. For whatever reason I am not too interested in the acoustic guitar route. I just can't see myself playing it. Almost all the music that I listen to is electric anyways, and I would like to emulate some of that.

So some of you think I should get a cheap package deal. I found this, what do you guys think? http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?...13839&PT_ID=30

And for you guys that think I shouldn't cheap out, what kind of guitar/amp would you recommend?

[tussery]

No offense but starting out with acoustic is the best idea. I started out on electric and to this day I still have trouble playing acoustic with the higher action they have.

[Nufy]

Acoustic is also better for finger strength...

Electrics don't sound so good by the campfire....

[Roy Keane]

That guitar package is garbage. If you're willing to spend $350 go out and spend fifty bucks more and get yourself a great acoustic guitar. You have to learn to play acoustic first, it's much tougher because you have to really press down on the strings hard. If you learn electric first you'll never play acoustic, which is much more rewarding. You can learn all the basic chords that are easy to play (Em, D, G, C, A) and how to perform simple bass and lead guitar tabs. After you've mastered that, probably a few months down the line, you can get yourself an electric and learn the harder chords (F, B, and most barre chords like E5).

Good luck, learning guitar is the best thing I ever did, it gives you great confidence and there's nothing like picking away on a rainy day or entertaining friends around a campfire.

[Burninator]

Hmm you guys are making a compelling case for the acoustic. So do you have any recommendations? I assume I'll be looking for a 6 string? I would like to stay around the 300-400 range, anything above that and I run the risk of wasting a lot of money if I don't play it.

[Roy Keane]

Yes go with a six string, a twelve string is for more experienced guitar players. You can get yourself a great acoustic guitar brand new for $400 bucks and you'll probably get a case, picks, and an extra set of strings thrown in for free.

If you use the search feature you'll pull up a great thread that was on here recently concerning the best places to go for a guitar, new and used.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I also concur with regards to getting an acoustic over an electric. And it's kind of silly advice, but spend what you wanna spend on a guitar. Guitars are one of those things where generally, you pay for quality. You can pick up a used guitar for as cheap as $40, and basically the amount you pay for a guitar can go anywhere from there.

I would personally say a good range for a beginner guitar is around $150-$200. That's how much I paid for my first guitar, which I bought from a pawn shop and it came with a soft case, some strings and a tuner.

Now, I own myself an $750 Simon and Patrick, along with a $700 Fender Strat and a large amp, and I'm buying myself a bass soon heh.

[CaramonLS]

I have an old acoustic, but I have no idea how to tune it.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Well, I ended up getting both acoustics and electrics.

I started with an Ibanez Artcore hollowbody electric, which gives off enough tone unplugged. Enough to practice by anyway. They're in the $400 range new.

For instruction I subscribe to Greg Summer's GuitarcastOnline podcast. Price is right, which is free. I download it to my video Ipod. There's also all sorts of DVDs out there if you want to learn at your own pace (if that's the route you want to go). Others here may be able to recommend a teacher if you prefer that.

I do have a couple of amps. An old-school tube amp and a smaller modelling amp. But for just fiddling around, I often plug my guitar into my Mac, which has Garageband. That, and wearing my headphones.

[Barnes]

I had the same feeling as you at some point in my life too Burninator and I went out and bought a nice acoustic. Cort I think?

I then realized why I had so much difficulty with my piano lessons when I was younger. I am absolutly, completly musically ######ed. Seriously, I spent months doing tutorials, memorizing chords, reading tabs, watching videos and all I got out of it was the begining of Redemption Song.

I want to learn. I have tried to learn. I am a little nervous of taking lessons because I think it's really something I can not do.

I do think that it would be better to learn on an acoustic though if you wanted to learn. In the end, if you are succesful, go out and get a nice electric. I would be happier with an okay acoustic and a great electric once I was a little more accomplished.

[4X4]

I tried to learn the guitar once, but I had major problems with the fact that my fingernails go to the end of my fingers. I have never bit my nails so the absolute shortest they get is too long to hold down a string on an acoustic properly.

Anyone else had that prob and fixed it? Don't bother telling me to stick my fingers in my mouth and chew my nails...

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I have an old acoustic, but I have no idea how to tune it.

http://www.gieson.com/Library/projects/utilities/tuner/

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I tried to learn the guitar once, but I had major problems with the fact that my fingernails go to the end of my fingers. I have never bit my nails so the absolute shortest they get is too long to hold down a string on an acoustic properly.

Anyone else had that prob and fixed it? Don't bother telling me to stick my fingers in my mouth and chew my nails...

I have that problem as well. Anyone that plays guitar have nails like this too?

[Inferno]

I've always wanted to learn but never got around to it. My cousin was going to teach me the year I lived with him in Winnipeg during college but he ended up getting a night job so we never did get around to it.