CrudeDiatribe
Member
As I said, it's normal. Do it slowly and correctly each time; experiment with/lookup different fingerings if you really think your fingers don't stretch a certain way.
Open chords are difficult for many beginners.
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Guitar: A Lets Play (and Learn) Thread.
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As I said, it's normal. Do it slowly and correctly each time; experiment with/lookup different fingerings if you really think your fingers don't stretch a certain way.
Open chords are difficult for many beginners.
I was learning to play Hey There Delilah and I'm having trouble with the switching in the intro.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
D to F#m isn't too bad. Just barre the G, B and E strings at the 2nd fret with your index finger and keep your middle finger on the 3rd fret for the D chord. Make sure you've got a thumb in the center of the neck to give you some leverage. You shouldn't have to strangle that chord to get it to ring clearly. Then for the transition, just keep your index finger in place, then move your ring finger to the fourth fret. You can use your pinky at the 4th too if you've got bigger fingers
Yeah true enough. I still play Gmaj as a barre chord since I find it really awkward to transition to say Cmaj from an open position
I'll give it a try and see if it helps. Thank you!
I'm a guitar teacher and something of a professional player. My area of expertise is jazz and theory. I'll read through the whole thread but in the meantime I just wanted to let everyone know that I'll try to provide an answer to any questions y'all might have.
My big tips are to learn theory and to be persistent, even if you're only able to manage fifteen minutes a day.
My big tips are to learn theory and to be persistent, even if you're only able to manage fifteen minutes a day.
Risible
Member
It's YouTube's anti jitter algorithm. You can choose to not have when you upload it,I would recommend that next time.
It's YouTube's anti jitter algorithm. You can choose to not have when you upload it,I would recommend that next time.
Thanks man
Really thinking about going pick up a guitar with my next paycheck, been wanting something to unwind with in the afternoons and I'd love to learn how to play an instrument.
Got to hold a Fender acoustic today - it had a plug on bottom to hookup to an amp as well as a 9-volt powered tuner built into the body next to the neck. I may end up looking for this exact one or something similar, is there anything I need to look out for in particular?
Got to hold a Fender acoustic today - it had a plug on bottom to hookup to an amp as well as a 9-volt powered tuner built into the body next to the neck. I may end up looking for this exact one or something similar, is there anything I need to look out for in particular?
Dude thats amazing, thats a pretty difficult piece, well done.
Mango Positive
Member
I've been playing for 22 years. I was blessed with a good ear, so I didn't "learn" theory, I learned patterns and how one string / fret combo sounds in relation to another. Ordinarily, I would not suggest this as a learning style, but it worked for me and it might work for you. Technically, I taught myself theory and committed it to muscle memory. I might be a lot better if I could have afforded lessons. Of course, I found Phish back in 1996 and Phish style improvisation (band plays music it hasn't practiced at a competent level, surprising the audience and the players at the same time) combined with a decent ear will get you pretty far.
My suggestions:
1) DON'T NEGLECT THE PINKY!!! Use it constantly. The pinky needs to be strong.
2) Pick confidently and in time. It may seem like your fret hand is doing most of the work, but you need to be paying attention to both hands simultaniously.
3) Start writing your own songs immediately. If you don't know how to play the sound that's in your head, move your fingers on the fret board until you find the root, then find the next note in the chord from there.
4) Beware of GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome). It's expensive:
Only a few things on this board cost less than $200.
My suggestions:
1) DON'T NEGLECT THE PINKY!!! Use it constantly. The pinky needs to be strong.
2) Pick confidently and in time. It may seem like your fret hand is doing most of the work, but you need to be paying attention to both hands simultaniously.
3) Start writing your own songs immediately. If you don't know how to play the sound that's in your head, move your fingers on the fret board until you find the root, then find the next note in the chord from there.
4) Beware of GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome). It's expensive:
Only a few things on this board cost less than $200.
CrudeDiatribe
Member
Got a smart phone? Spend $0-$10 on a tuner app. Don't get any electronics on your first acoustic, you won't need them and they aren't very good.
The trouble with buying a guitar when you don't know how to play is that you don't know what sounds good and you don't know what's comfortable. Get the guitar from a place that includes a setup, so you aren't hobbled by the strings being a mile off the fretboard.
Thank you! I have a classical guitar degree and I teach full time so I have the guitar in my hands 8 hours a day.
If anyone wants any help with right hand technique I would love to help.
Mixolydian
Member
I've been playing for 22 years. I was blessed with a good ear, so I didn't "learn" theory, I learned patterns and how one string / fret combo sounds in relation to another. Ordinarily, I would not suggest this as a learning style, but it worked for me and it might work for you. Technically, I taught myself theory and committed it to muscle memory. I might be a lot better if I could have afforded lessons. Of course, I found Phish back in 1996 and Phish style improvisation (band plays music it hasn't practiced at a competent level, surprising the audience and the players at the same time) combined with a decent ear will get you pretty far.
My suggestions:
1) DON'T NEGLECT THE PINKY!!! Use it constantly. The pinky needs to be strong.
2) Pick confidently and in time. It may seem like your fret hand is doing most of the work, but you need to be paying attention to both hands simultaniously.
3) Start writing your own songs immediately. If you don't know how to play the sound that's in your head, move your fingers on the fret board until you find the root, then find the next note in the chord from there.
4) Beware of GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome). It's expensive:
Only a few things on this board cost less than $200.
Ha. Indeed on number 4. Getting a Kemper profiler soon. Maybe that'll finally cure my GAS
Awesome, brother.
Edit: Meant to quote your video.
Ha. Indeed on number 4. Getting a Kemper profiler soon. Maybe that'll finally cure my GAS
Awesome, brother.
Edit: Meant to quote your video.
Kempers are awesome! My band recorded with one, they sound great.
krypt0nian
Banned
Hey all. I must want to say that the Desi Serna guitar theory podcasts are really working out well for me. I know a fair bit of music theory from being a choral and ensemble singer, so that's the level I'm coming at this at, and it may not be as useful right away for players without at least some musical background, but hey give the first couple a shot and see if it clicks. It's not advanced by any means, but it presupposes that you can play some.
I have a nice electric acoustic and have had it for years without buckling down, so I know my fretboard and basic chords, but I'm so out of muscle memory (and callous) practice that for all intents and purposes I'm starting over.
So this thread, is a good thing at a good time. Cheers all!
I have a nice electric acoustic and have had it for years without buckling down, so I know my fretboard and basic chords, but I'm so out of muscle memory (and callous) practice that for all intents and purposes I'm starting over.
So this thread, is a good thing at a good time. Cheers all!
So since I just have a story to tell about how I just got my amp.
Before this amp, I was using a bass amp, an old one, BP-15 with my electric lol. It didn't have distortion so I used an effects modulator which had a whole bunch of stuff on it so I made due.
So I was browsing an auction site and they had a Fender Mustang 1 v2 up for auction. The bid was at about $8 with a day left. So I came back when there was like 5 mins left and just spammed refresh. It was still sitting at $8.
So in the last 30 seconds, I see the price start climbing by small amounts.
It was like that scene in Braveheart where Mel Gibson is like.."Hold.....Hold.....HOLLLDDD," and in the last 4-5 seconds I put a max bid of $30 and a window pops up and says, "you are the current highest bidder."
I spam refresh and I don't know if I won cause the auction ended so I'm holding my breathe for an email or something. Few minutes pass and nothing.
Get the email moments later and I won.....FOR 11 DOLLARS (plus handling).
So I go next day to pick it up from the warehouse and bring it home. Unwrap it, and I notice it isn't a Mustang 1 V2...but a Mustang 2 V2...
So I just got a 40 Watt amp that goes for $200+ for $11..... and I feel pretty good about it I just wanted to share that.
On topic: I listened to the Desi podcast you linked, specifically the 2nd one and it really helped! I'm not a good guitar player but I've been acquainted for quite a while. I hope to gitgud soon.
Before this amp, I was using a bass amp, an old one, BP-15 with my electric lol. It didn't have distortion so I used an effects modulator which had a whole bunch of stuff on it so I made due.
So I was browsing an auction site and they had a Fender Mustang 1 v2 up for auction. The bid was at about $8 with a day left. So I came back when there was like 5 mins left and just spammed refresh. It was still sitting at $8.
So in the last 30 seconds, I see the price start climbing by small amounts.
It was like that scene in Braveheart where Mel Gibson is like.."Hold.....Hold.....HOLLLDDD," and in the last 4-5 seconds I put a max bid of $30 and a window pops up and says, "you are the current highest bidder."
I spam refresh and I don't know if I won cause the auction ended so I'm holding my breathe for an email or something. Few minutes pass and nothing.
Get the email moments later and I won.....FOR 11 DOLLARS (plus handling).
So I go next day to pick it up from the warehouse and bring it home. Unwrap it, and I notice it isn't a Mustang 1 V2...but a Mustang 2 V2...
So I just got a 40 Watt amp that goes for $200+ for $11..... and I feel pretty good about it
I just wanted to share that.On topic: I listened to the Desi podcast you linked, specifically the 2nd one and it really helped! I'm not a good guitar player but I've been acquainted for quite a while. I hope to gitgud soon.
krypt0nian
Banned
Ugh. I hate when this feel comes over me. I have a beautiful electric acoustic that I need to knock out a hundred hours of practice with, and yet I was just pricing and dreaming about that gorgeous red Epiphone Casino Coupe electric!
Stop it! LOL
Stop it! LOL
krypt0nian
Banned
Ok. Took the first step tonight and got my acoustic out for the first time in like two years. Tuned it, and strummed some chords I recalled. Enough to hurt and remind me I should have never stopped and allowed the callouses that I had earned to fade. OUCH.
Wow, sorry for taking so long, had forgotten about this thread.
My main problem with picking is doing string skipping and going through scales as fast as I can go with my figerpicking. But I've gotten better at the latter recently. String skipping is still a pain. =/
krypt0nian
Banned
I'd love it if we could check into the thread and report progress, challenges, new practice aids/videos, etc.
NotTheGuyYouKill
Member
You know what ticks me off? My fat fingers. Always touching another string, and I have to contort them to set them properly.
Shit hurts.
Shit hurts.
ComputerMKII
Banned
eot
Banned
Those videos always baffle me. Does he have insanely high gain or what? I need to tap really hard to get any decent amount of sound.
ComputerMKII
Banned
From Yvette Young's ask.fm: http://ask.fm/YvetteYoung
When I tap, the volume seems dramatically lower than when I play normally. How can I fix that?
Compressor pedal! I use a pigtronix philosopher's tone
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
I don't partake in tapping or anything but that's one of the piece of the puzzle I've always been curious of. On a related note, I've never been able to execute pinch harmonics, is high gain or a compressor a necessity there too?
ComputerMKII
Banned
I guess it's better with high gain, but you also need a lot of practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EopxzIU1POQ
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
I'll check that out later. I've watched videos and read tutorials on the subject but I could never get it to work for me. I don't play metal or anything but there are some instances where certain licks don't sound right unless you embellish them with harmonics. ZZ Top comes to mind
CrudeDiatribe
Member
No, one can do it on an acoustic. All in the hands.
Hey guys, question about the pentatonic scale.
Listening to the podcast linked in the OP, he said focus on the positioning of the fingers rather than the frets they are on.
He was using an E minor Pentatonic scale. But what if I changed the tuning of my guitar to C-Standard or something? Would my positioning change? Do pentatonic scale positions change depending on the tuning of the guitar or the root of the scale?
How about the positions? Can I just use any position anywhere and it's a pentatonic or what?
Just kind of confused.
Listening to the podcast linked in the OP, he said focus on the positioning of the fingers rather than the frets they are on.
He was using an E minor Pentatonic scale. But what if I changed the tuning of my guitar to C-Standard or something? Would my positioning change? Do pentatonic scale positions change depending on the tuning of the guitar or the root of the scale?
How about the positions? Can I just use any position anywhere and it's a pentatonic or what?
Just kind of confused.
Shit yeah, if you learn a scale based on its relative position and then change your guitar tuning the position is gonna change.
Tbh I don't recommend mucking with alt tunings until you can handle A440 like a boss.
ComputerMKII
Banned
You'd be better off remembering the intervals instead of the positions
So position 1 on F Minor on an E Standard tuned guitar would have different fingering than position 1 on a C Standard tuned guitar rooted on C# minor?
Also, what do you mean by intervals?
Yes.
And by intervals, he means the number of notes, or steps, (well half-steps really lol) between adjacent notes in the scale, the reason it's worth mentioning here is that the interval distances never change between tunings, just the fingerings.
CrudeDiatribe
Member
If you play what you learned as an E minor scale in standard tuning on something tuned down to C-standard, then you're playing a C minor scale.
If you wish to play an F minor scale then where the notes of that scale live is necessarily going to change if you change the tuning.
It's the distance between two notes. From the first note of your minor pentatonic to the second is a minor-third interval (3 frets).
Well his position 1 is starting on the 12th fret, not an open string but if you changed to a C-standard tuning and played the exact same scale in the same spot it would now be a C penta instead of an E penta. To play an E penta you'd have to play the same scale at the 16th fret.
CrudeDiatribe
Member
As long as the strings maintain their relationship (i.e. E-A-D-G-B-E to C-F-Bb-E-G-C), then those patterns remain correct but the particular scale you're playing depends on the starting fret and the note the string is tuned to. I think you know this since you mentioned earlier to playing F-minor in the first position.
If you want to experiment, record yourself playing the scale with your guitar tuned one way and then again with it tuned the other way, but still using the same frets. The recordings will sound different, but each recording on its own will sound correct. Does that make sense?
I know you know this, but 12th fret is the same as the open string.
Or the 4th fret.
It's the same key an octave higher but if the guy wants to learn how to play guitar it'll be better if he learns to read chord and scale charts correctly early on.
krypt0nian
Banned
Picked up Desi Serna's Fretboard Theory and wow what a great book. Seems like a good way to brain train.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
Gave his podcast a listen the other day and I may do the same. Theory is something I've always wrestled with mostly cause it's not dumbed down enough and I lose interest accordingly
Anyhow, what's the best tonally satisfying small practice amp that you can buy these days? I have a Blackheart Little Giant but that thing is loud as hell and I can't dial in any sort of overdrive without pushing the volume to clip the tubes. I was thinking of a Micro Terror with the accompanying 8 inch cab. Runs like $250 and I can probably throw a Big Muff in front of it for about $50-60. Is there anything better than that combo for the money?
No, you just need practice. I would recommend getting natural harmonics on 12th, 7th, 5th down before going for pinch harmonics. It is really dependent on both fingers and if you intend to do them with a pick they are even harder than with fingers.
Not sure if this is well known but www.gametabs.net has been a brilliant resource for me when I found it I felt like I'd struck gold . There's a ton of songs contributed here with a multitude of styles from quite a number of games as well as some anime.
Here's some of my favourites that I've managed to play at somewhat alright:
Melodies of Life from FFIX arranged by TheDoomOfAllFires
Market Theme from LoZ:OOT arranged by Alfa_ice
Matoya's Cave from FFI arranged by Orusaka
Harvest Dawn from TES:Oblivion arranged by Bhael
Sadness and Sorrow from Naruto by 60NCA10
. There's a ton of songs contributed here with a multitude of styles from quite a number of games as well as some anime.Here's some of my favourites that I've managed to play at somewhat alright:
Melodies of Life from FFIX arranged by TheDoomOfAllFires
Market Theme from LoZ:OOT arranged by Alfa_ice
Matoya's Cave from FFI arranged by Orusaka
Harvest Dawn from TES:Oblivion arranged by Bhael
Sadness and Sorrow from Naruto by 60NCA10
Mixolydian
Member
I forgot to check this thread as well.
Ok, the second part of your statement comes off as confusing, but I assume you mean you're having trouble flying through scales with strict alternate picking, right? Check some of my other posts. Guitarists have a nasty habit of equating speed with skill, making everything they do a contest, and comparing their skill level with others. That usually leads them down a shallow musical path with blinders on. Many become obsessed (not saying you, but in general) with being the fastest, or most technically impressive and lose melody and musicality in the process. Don't do that. See Michael Impelliteri or Rusty Cooley for prime examples IMO.
It sounds like at slow speeds, you can get many of your desired playing goals accomplished. Good. Thats how it's supposed to be. Based off of your words (going through the scales as fast as possible), you might gey impatient when hearing your favorite guitarist rip through a scale, and then try to play as fast as possible. From mild to wild with no control. It's those middling speeds and exercises that are going to get you where you'd like to be. Worry about clear and controlled movements. Listen for sloppy notes and adjust accordingly. Focus on control.
If I completely misunderstood you. Sorry
Mixolydian
Member
No, and never turn up gain as a way to hide playing flaws
The way I do it (if you learn your own way, GREAT!) is to grip the pick a little tighter, expose a little more thumb skin, and in one motion (think of turning the key in an ingition on, might need to post a vid to show what I mean) hit the pick and side of your thumb against the string. The part of your thumb that brushes against your string should require no adjustment to your playing. Its already near the string, you're simply lowering your thumb a tad to touch the string at the same time your pick hits. Also, try different frets. Find one that rings out, get the technique consistent, and move around. Just don't be like Zakk Wylde
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
No, and never turn up gain as a way to hide playing flaws
Also, try different frets. Find one that rings out, get the technique consistent, and move around. Just don't be like Zakk Wylde
Yeah I usually run a clean tone when I practice just so that any and all mistakes are audible since I need to work on my muting (to stop strings from ringing) so that my playing sounds cleaner. I find that it's quite an adjustment playing standing up as opposed to sitting down since I do the majority of my practice while sitting.
And if you could record a video demonstrating the technique that would be really helpful. I've read articles on the subject over the years and even watched a video or two and I don't think they ever managed to slow it down enough or show it in enough detail for me to understand precisely what's going on. I understand that you've gotta be in a sweet spot over the bridge to get the harmonics to ring, and that you'v got to strike the string and mute it simultaneously to get the effect, but I've just never gotten it to happen.
Anywho, just sitting here, checking out fuzz pedals right now. VFE's Fiery Red Horse and Apocalypse from Death By Sound both sound pretty rad
Mixolydian
Member
Absolutely. I'll PM you a video of me doing some harmonics. I'll break it down on exactly how I go about it. FTR, there are many spots on a string that can give you some sweet harmonics.
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