Learning the guitar

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Permalink Reply by Kieran Metcalfe on March 30, 2009 at 12:00pm

If you're just starting out, you're up against one of the hardest steps in learning guitar.

You obviously don't want to spend a fortune on a guitar, but the cheaper ones tend to have really high action (the distance you have to press the strings down) so are hard to play, which can be frustrating and demoralising....

So, my two penneth worth bit of advice would be to try to get a second hand guitar to get good action at a reasonable price, rather than dashing out to buy a new one. Unless you're feeling flush.... ;) As to what makes to look for etc, I'm afraid I'm not well enough versed in them, but I'm sure someone on here will be :)

K

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Permalink Reply by Julia Chantrell on March 30, 2009 at 12:27pm

Do you have anyone who can show a few basics on their guitar before you go out and buy? That way, if you play a couple of chords, you can test the guitar for its action etc [remembering that whatever you go for you will end up with blisters to start with...]

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Permalink Reply by David Bull on March 30, 2009 at 1:19pm

Hi Jo,

If you can it is probably best to borrow a guitar for a few weeks, lots of people try for a bit and give up because it's not easy and you have to be commited to practicing regularly. If your going to be any good you probably need to practice on a daily basis. If you decide to buy second hand get someone who knows their guitars to have a look at it before you buy, a steel stringed guitar with the bridge lifting off the body is acctualy quite dangorus. If the bridge comes off the body it could quite easily take an eye out but that doesn't apply to guitars with tail pieces, it the tail piece that must be fixed to the body properly. You also have to decide wheter you want the clasical nylon strung guitar sound or the steel string sound. Most worship guitarists use steel strung guitars.
On the action thing, Cheep guitars have a high acction because there manufacturing tolerences are wide, it is posible to lowere the acction by fileing bits off in the right polaces. While I wouldn't recomend that to a beginner if you buy from a reputable muisic shop rather than mail order of Argos they will probably lower the action for you for a small fee or even for free. You may also find a secondhad guitar that has already had it done.

Sory I'm rambling!

Oh! and what ever you do, don't buy a cheap twelve string guitar, the tension is so great that they distort to the point where they can't be played verry quickely. From my experiance eighteen months to two years.

David Bull.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Dixon on March 30, 2009 at 2:41pm

Hi Jo David's right

Borrow one - any sort except electric or 12 string - nylon strung guitars are easier on the fingertips but the strings are further apart so the chords need more care when trying not to 'buzz'. Im find that after a nylon strung guitar steel strings are easier. Get a friend to show you some basics, an easy worship song for instance. Try for musicallity over perfection in the early days. But if you want to know what I really think see my post on worhip peeves!! :-) Learn the drums or the bassoon - anything but another accoustic!!:-)

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Permalink Reply by David Bull on March 31, 2009 at 7:29pm

And another thing!

Don't let this lot here on HMI put you off.

They are either deadly serious of raving bonkers.

I leave you to decide who is in which category !!!!!!!!!!!!

David Bull.

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Permalink Reply by Vic Salt on March 31, 2009 at 7:56pm

1. Practise little and often to start with ten-twenty minutes a day.
2. Unless you have really good nails (strong) buy quite a few plectrums
3. Find a song you like, to learn first that is not too difficult

There's a book called Playing the Guitar in Worship, Joe King Published by Kingsway. this is as good as any other tutor I've seen for playing chord accompaniment. Has a a CD you as well.


When buying a guitar take someone with you who can play and hear what the guitar your buying sounds like!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Smith on April 3, 2009 at 12:57pm

A friend of mine who has been playing for years taught me. I first started by just borrowing an acoustic and learning the chord shapes so it didn't really matter about the quality of the guitar. The first guitar I got was a second hand electric that my freind picked up for my from the local music shop. It cost £20 because the electrics inside were working, but with a little solder its as good as new. So in total with new strings the guitar cost me £40 and its great, I have only been playing for around 4 months and now play every other sunday at church.

All I can say is stick with it and the burning sensation in your fingers is normal!

xXx

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