playin' guitar

[nessarose]

i have just had my official first guitar lesson and i am way excited!!! so i thought, what better place to share my excitment and ask questions about learning guitar??!!

that is assuming that anyone in this discussion board actually plays...cause most of the posts tend to be i think that sean is sooo cute! (which he is, but.....:D you know)

i have been around guitar my whole life, my daddy plays and when i was little there was nothing i liked better than to leave the door to my room open and go to sleep listening to him play, my big bro plays professionally (although, he plays electric, which i enjoy but isn't exactly my cup of tea), even my little brother plays(and i am actually always amazed each time i hear him, he really is coming into his own with his sound.) and i have always wanted to play, but i think that i was scared that i wouldn't be good.....but i have conquered my fears, sacked up and decided who cares if i suck at guitar, i'm gonna learn.....so yea, first lesson....

so, does anyone play? how long have you played? what got you started? any tips for the newbie?

~vanessa

[sarah]

i play. started when I was 9 and learned because my dad plays. used to own 4 guitars now down to 2. a blue ibanez jx70 and martin d28... 1970 or 1973... I'm not 100% sure.

[mandofocus]

I have been playing guitar for about 5-6 years. I have two guitars. An Epiphone Les Paul and a Hohner Dred Acoustic-Electric Cutaway. I got the Hohner from a friend who had one custom made with a really cool opal that goes all the way around the outside edge of the guitar.
I also have a Rouge A-model mandolin which I play more often thanks to Chris.

Respectfully,
PJ :cool:

[Bart Simpson]

Anyone know what the term of Dred means when it comes to Guitars?

[stpauler]

Dred is actually short for dreadnought, a standard marcation for a size and style of guitar. Check out the classic CF Martin website and see some differences:
http://www.mguitar.com/MartinGuitar/index.asp

As for tips for a newbie....well I've been playing for about 9 years. I decided to teach myself music. (Turns out the learning curve would've been a lot shorter had I taken lessons).
My biggest tip is to find music that you like to listen to (Nickel Creek for instance [noise] and play along with the CD. The Fox would be an easy song to start out with (chord wise that is). Here's a link, just make sure your guitar is tuned to play along:
http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/songslister.html/n/nickel_creek/the_fox2.crd

Cheers,
josh

[jonraz]

Nice to hear that you picked up your first axe!!! Guitar is where its at!!! I've been playing for about 6 years seriously now, and I'm also a self taught player myself. I think that is really the best way to learn. Start w/ basic chords and formations, throw in some theory along w/ it too, so you can understand what and why you are playing it. Also, personally, I think the best guitars are made by Martin!! Others may disagree, but I think they have the best tone and they are lifetime guaranteed. They are a little pricy, but well worth your buckaroo!!! It will seem difficult at first, but you just have to keep w/ it, just like anything else. Good luck, and hope this helps a bit.

RAz

[OrnotMajestic]

When it comes to acoustics, for the price, it's hard to beat a Taylor.

IMHO, I think Martin's have dropped in quality over the past few years and that Taylor has them beat out. *shrugs* I just like the natural, deep tone of the low strings. Hard to beat that tone. *swoons*

But this is nothing to me, as I don't play a Martin or a Taylor. I play a 1982 Ovation. Deep bowl, Conneticut made. Sounds great plugged in.

[pencefan]

If you want to see some beautiful guitars and basses go to www.schecterguitars.com. They've got both acoustic and electric. And they're reasonably priced.

[aaronsawyer]

guitar is good...it's true...if i were to pick a rockin' acoustic guitar for the best tone...i'd go with a collings or a breedlove they are amazing...collings are handmade to sound like old martins which rocks and breedlove is a relatively new guitar brand out of oregon...the two guys who make breedlove's worked for taylor a while back but decide to go out make their own...since they aren't on such a large scale as taylor or martin tons more care and time go into making them so they sound that much better....collings and breedlove also make killer mandolins too...but i'd say when looking for a guitar (even though this isn't the subject) always play it first and check out options that aren't so well known...there are more guitar brands out there than fender, gibson, taylor and martin....

[ncfan]

I've been playing guitar for about 6 months now. I love it sooo much. I actually started because of Sean. He has been such an inspiration to me.

Shannon

[desert rose]

I only play mandolin....I don't get guitar. It's hard to understand for me. Oh well.....:)

[FanNC4ever]

I just bought a guitar a few weeks ago. I'm trying to teach myself...so far it's not working. lol.

Sean was my inspiration...seeing him play made me want to try it.

I'm hoping SOMEDAY I can play decently, but they way it's going now...it's not gonna happen.

[desert rose]

You're not alone.
YOU'RE NEVER ALONE.-Sting

haha....but really, I wish I could play guitar decently, but it's not gonna happen. We wouldn't be the first two.

[FuManDraco]

I have had a guitar for 5 years now and I have hardly picked the thing up...I tried so hard to learn the first 2 years, self-taught, but my hands just wouldn't let me... they are very small

I have tried kinda of warping the way a normal person would play but that led to painful sessions...I am wondering if a mando would be better for a person with small hands...

[JoshM17]

Congrats on picking up the guitar! I've been playing for about 3 months now, and I'm teaching myself. I was inspired by both my dad, and Sean. I always thought guitar music was great to listen to, but even better to make! So, I picked it up, and I think I'm making good progress.

I just use my chord sheet, try some NC songs, and just basically experiment with different stuff. As of now, I can play about 4 or 5 complete songs, including The Lucky One, Out of The Woods, and Reasons Why, for which I'm working on the guitar solo. :-)

Keep it up, and you'll enjoy it!

~Josh

[desert rose]

I'd rather just listen to people play guitar, rather than play it myself. I do like mandolin and I played it and sang with it on Friday at a Christmas concert, and played Coventry Carol. It was fun.

[PyroKiwi]

I started playing early last March, and I've learned a whole bunch of open chords, but I haven't played in a while. I keep meaning to pick it up again, even if it's just to strum chords at the wall... I also know about four mandolin chords. Impressive, no? :)

[Elizabeth]

I got my guitar for Christmas and start lessons when I go back to college, my friend there is teaching me. My aunt's boyfriend bought a mando at Christmas and they are coming to stay with us in a few weeks, so he's bringing it with him, I can't wait to try to play it! :D

[juineaux]

I started playing guitar about 6 years ago? im not really sure. I just started playing slide guitar on this new years eve and have had a lot of fun with that. My Dad was probably the one that introduced me to guitars because he makes them, but i dont really remember. After I started listening to Nickel creek ive been playing so much better. I bought a mandolin this summer, but im really strugling with that little 8 stringed devil.[bang] , but definatley try out the slide its alot of fun, very melodic. If I was to pick a guitar for great tone I would pick a collings or santacruz, but I think it's more the player than the guitar.

[matt the fiddler]

i have been playing guitar for 8 years or so.. violin takes up more time, and is more important important- so my guitar sometimes gets the shaft... started in a dave matthews/ jars of clay rock style... studied classical for a while, and am doign a lot work moving into jazz structures right now....

the most versitile guitarists can get away not playing any open strings.... if needed.. IE sean will capo for a song, and then have a key change on the next song, then 30 seconds from the end will change the capo, move up to the jazz frames [not bar chords] still in the old key, then is able to hit the downbeat in time and key of the new song.

[J. Marie Hall]

i started this month :) i'm playing flute again, and i decided to work guitar in since it's always been in the back of my mind. my e is okay. my d and g stink...this will get better? :) oh, my one chord...

matt, you inspire me. here you are, doing this board, doing school etc. and playing so phenomenally. wow. think a little wayne and garth saying, we're not worthy...

-j. marie

[DixieMedley]

I bought my guitar at the end of August, and have been playing around with it ever since.... however, last week I started lessons, so hopefully my talent will begin to increase exponentially. :D

[Tagatha]

Hi guys - Nice place you've got here!

Anyway, I got my first guitar (and actually, my only guitar!) at the age of ten when my Aunt was going abroad and left it to me to 'look after' as I'd expressed an interest in learning. I went the painful and slow road of self-tuition...which I've come to realise is sneered at by many a learned guitar player, but frankly I don't care. When I play it might not be technically perfect, but it's true to me and comes from the soul. (Sheesh....that sounds really airy, but it's how I feel.)
So I learnt in fits and starts over the next few years and buckled down to it when I was 14/15 and began writing. Now, I'm the ripe old age of 19 and my style isn't perfect, but it's mine. I enjoyed working out the chords to a lot of 'creek songs and playing along, and I use a few in folk sessions and gigs along with my own stuff sometimes. Depends. My lil' bro and I do a great little set of Lighthouse/reasons why/the fox/spit on a stranger with me on Guitar and him on Bodhran!

Then I went to a folk music shop a month ago where the guy made the *big* mistake of not only letting me hold a mandolin, but he handed me a pick and told me to play around while he dealt with another customer. Once over the initial shock of holding such a cool thing, I was just messing around with picking and was amazed at how natural it felt. Away I went! So anyway, I'm saving up to buy one soon. I've even given up the beer to be able to afford one! Now, that's dedication!

More power to young musicians!

[juineaux]

....so I started giving lessons to one of my friends today. Does anyone have any advice for teaching other people?

[Oddler82]

Been playing guitar on and off for about 9 years. Played Violin for 2 of those years.

I have an electric Fender Squier with a custom humbucker pickup, and an acoustic Black Martin X series that I got a little over a month ago.

I'm not an expert myself, but I'm happy to help anyone who needs it. E-mail/AIM me :)

[ricefan]

Personally I think that Collings has the best acoustic guitar out nothing in my opinion can come up with them.I know Sean used to play a Collings D2H. I have been playing for 4 yrs and actually started with my style from guitar player Tony Rice.I have seen some interviews with Sean where he says the same thing.Again in my opinion most of the great guitar players have folowed Tony Rice to an extent.Sean now has his own style formed from that and it is awsome.Only advice I can give is keep practicing don't force yourself to play just play when you get the urge.

[Guesswho_Chick]

Hi nessarose!!

Oo! I just had my first guitar lesson today!! yay!! (although afterwards I was kinda freakin' out - am I gonna become elistist? should I be doing this?? I've been so scared of lessons) Been teaching myself (with Guitar for Dummies and online stuff) for about two years - but was reeeeally stuck in a rut til I found NC and then listened to people they admire and/or work with - yay!! I've freed my mind!! LOL!!

I play some Yamaha classical that I think has been discontinued >:o(. but that's okay, cuz my Mom was able to get it cheap!! hehehe :)

I'm not sure exactly what got me started! I started falling back in love with music when I was fourteen, and tried to pick it up then but couldn't get it. :( Then two years later I got my own (and by now I was TOTALLY obsessed with music, or at least certain bands), and got that STUPID G chord I couldn't before on the first day I got it!!! WAHHHOOOIIIEE!! It was probably all out of tune, but I was SO happy!! hehe :)

[JoshM17]

Hey GuessWho Chick! Just wanted to welcome you to the boards. :D I don't post too often, but this place is a wealth of info on the 'creek, not to mention good for a laugh now and then. [splat]

I can totally relate to freaking out at guitar lessons, cause I've been teaching myself for about 6 months now, with Guitar for Dummies asl well, along with other various means, like NC songs :-)

I play folk as well, and I've got a nice Norman B-20 Folk that I got for Christmas. I love it! Hey, I used to have a Yamaha before I got the Norman. It was an oldie.... circa 1968.

You're home-schooled? Yay! I was my whole life :cool: I'm a Freshman in college now, but I can say that I had a great education. Do you like it? Are there any other home-schoolers in your area? Anyway, it's cool that you're home-schooled.

Well, I gotta run. Nice to have ya on the board. Post often. :-)

Cheers,

~Josh

[Guesswho_Chick]

Hiya Josh!! :) Thanks for the nice welcome!!! *big hugs* Hope this is a nice place to snuggle down and get cozy in!! :)

LOL - so you've been using the dummies book too?? Doesn't rock it rock??!! :D My guitar teacher kinda dissed it, but it's helped me sooo much!! :) Oooo - are any NC songs even reasonably easy to play?? Sean's soooo good!! And Chris, too - I'd LOVE to learn Brand New Sidewalk!!

Woohoo!! Another Yamaha!! hehe How do you like your Norman?? hehe, I think I JUST realized I play folk mainly - which is kinda cool, can encompass a lot and it's what NC was considered in the grammies, so it's muuuust rock!! ;)

Yay!! You're homeschooled, too?? I have been since the fourth grade *so I refer to myself as a fourth-grade dropout, my lil bro is a kindergarten drop out hehe). I loooove it - was a total teacher's pet elisist in school - freaks me out when I think of the path I could have been on *shudders* [shock] Just started getting involved with some homeschoolers here, we all got together and went to the House of Blues for a field trip - WAHOO!! And we're going bowling next month - educational, ay?? ;) LOL

Think I may be postin' quite a bit on here *although I may have days in between posts sometimes :P *

Thanks again!!!
Amanda

[NcklCrkGurl4Eva]

Hey! I'm a newbie at guitar too. Do you guys have any tips? God Bless! Luv Always, ~Maria~ Your Memory's The Sunshine Every New Day Brings, I Know The Sky Is Calling, Angel, Let Me Help You With Your Wings

[Guesswho_Chick]

Welcome to the world of guitar!!! hehe

Tips?? Guitar for dummies is a good book - I just got a REALLY good classical guitar book that teaches reading music too - I can get you the name of that if you're interested. Classical seems really good to learn first. and you can try guitar.about.com message board - they get pretty fiesty but if you sort through and just get the info it can be pretty helpful . . .

good luck!!! [noise]