Guitars

[Drew2]

Inspired by a friend of mine, I think I'm going to try my hand at the guitar. I'm SURE someone here has had experience with guitar playing, so I need to know of a good brand, or a specific one that's good for a beginner. I'm probably going to sell my trumpet (I can probably get a good 7-800 for it) so price isn't really an issue, though I'd like to keep it pretty low. From what I understand, beginner guitars run about $60-110 or so.

Anyway... yeah. Opinions please.


Oh and if anyone is looking to buy a silver Bach trumpet, let me know. Haha.

[Edited on 4-25-2004 by Tayre]

[Caipre]

You want an electric, or acoustic? If you want an acoustic, do you want nylon or steel strings?

[Myshel]

I have three guitars in my house, one that I bought in Mexico when I was there. Two that my kids wanted to learn to play, tried for awhile and then they went into the closet. So my advice is get on e-bay or goodwill.com and get a cheap one, untill you know you want to really stay with it. Then when you know what you want and you can get a good one.

[crazymage]

you can only play los lobos music, since you're mexican sorry.

[Soulpieced]

Acoustic is better to learn on because it's harder to play. Any cheap brand will probably do. If you really want to go electric, about your only choice is a Fender Squire.

[Caipre]

I disagree. Although the Squire is a pretty good choice for a starter, if you don't want that style there are a few others that come in a "Starter kit" (with amp, tuner, etc.).

I do agree with the choice of an acoustic for a first choice, but again you need to choose nylon or steel string. Nylon tends to be easier on the fingers and is generally used for classical. Steel will do it's damage to your fingers quicker, but you will need to build the calluses, and the sooner and thicker the better.

[Edited on 4-25-2004 by Caipre]

[Latrinsorm]

Get a cheap knock-off electric. If you really decide you're into it, get an acoustic-electric with steel strings.

I never had you pegged as a trumpet guy. Huh. I woulda put you on the clarinet, probably.

[HarmNone]

I have an old Martin accoustic from 1872 (before the company moved to Philadelphia). I even have its original coffin case. I do not suppose that is what you are looking for, though. ;)

If it were me, I would learn on an accoustic with steel strings. Once your fingers are finished bleeding you will be on your way! :)

HarmNone

[Bobmuhthol]

I was like 10 when I learned on an uber acoustic guitar with steel strings.

Then I stopped because I realized guitars suck. :thumbsdown:

[Telfaahga]

Buy an Ovation acoustic there very good guitars and last a long time if taken care of and they are acoustic/electric so you get both sounds with one guitar.

[ThisOtherKingdom]

I think Ovation guitars are crap, with their plastic back it's impossible to keep it on your leg. Soulpieced had some good advice in the fact that it'll be a lot easier playing an electric guitar after you've learned on an acoustic, but I don't think it'll make an enormous difference.

If you have a Guitar Center by your house, I'd just wait for one of their red tag sales, I'm sure you can get a pretty good deal on a starter guitar, amp, picks, etc, for a reasonable price. Plus they'll have a wider range of guitars to choose from. Not only that, it's better than buying online because you'll be able to sit down with a few different ones and tell if it immediately feels right for you.

Take lessons if you can afford them. It'll advance you so much quicker than trying to learn yourself.

[Telfaahga]

Ovations are easy to keep on your leg I don't think I have ever had a problem with that or heard of it until you said it. This is what mine looks like but its blue -


http://www.ovationguitars.com/pics/models/CS257-8T.jpg

[ThisOtherKingdom]

They have very thin backs, and the plastic often makes it slip right off my leg. It just sits uncomfortably on mine, I don't like them. The sound is decent, though. That's why it is important to go to a store to find a guitar that has a nice feel to you.

[Telfaahga]

I see what your saying I can't even play my electric cause I lost the battery for it. It decided it didn't want to stay in place after a couple months.

[Drew2]

Yeah, I thought I mentioned I'd prefer to start on acoustic. I think there is a Guitar Center near where I live, so I'll probably go check that out.


Thanks for all the input, but it seems there's a few suggestions I'll have to sort through. I definitely have a direction to go now.

[Telfaahga]

Yeah the acoustic guitar room is usually closed off from the rest of the store nice and quiet so you can find something that fits you.

[Nieninque]

Originally posted by Bobmuhthol
I was like 10 when I learned on an uber acoustic guitar with steel strings.

Then I stopped because I realized guitars suck. :thumbsdown:
:gasp:

Guitars are the best source of music...I cant play one (wish I could) but all the music I llisten to is guitar-based and its the best

[Hanksbane]

I started on a washburn acoustic guitar that I have to this day (about 11 years old now) and still sounds nice. Lots of people have suggested it already, but the best way to choose one is to go to the store and try em out. I like ovations sound but I don't like the backs. Totally go with steel string unless you wanna play classical, build up those callouses (however you spell it).

Once you get the hang of chords and a few scales, you can move onto electrics. Epiphone makes some cheap guitars that aren't that bad. I started on an Epiphone Les Paul and a Fender Squire.

But always play the guitar first, beofre buying. With both acoustic and electrics get the feel and listen for the sound. When choosing an electric, play it on the same amp you will get or have.

I must say guitars are a nice way of working through frustrations as well as when you are just relaxing. Easy to just pick up and play almost anywhere you are.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Hanksbane
I started on a washburn acoustic guitar that I have to this day (about 11 years old now) and still sounds nice.Hey, is your top e-string like ridiculously out of tune with itself? Because mine's starting to piss me off.

[Kadumi]

I suggest starting on acoustic too. be like stevie ray vaughan and glue the callouses back on when they fall off and your fingers are bleeding. I started with an electric and it was a pretty big adjustment. however, the electric guitar is MUCH more fun.

if you're lookin for an acoustic, I got an ibanez acoustic/electric with a cutaway brand new for $300. I love that thing. When we play live I use it when we cover 'rooster' and 'interstate love song.'

If you're lookin for electrics, I'd stay away from the squire. you'll outgrow it QUICK. they do sound much much better with new pickups but for that cost you might as well buy a decent guitar in the first place. my first 'real' guitar was an epiphone sg. its a good guitar. I also suggest the esp ltd mirage. it'll cost a lil bit more but it has a floyd rose bridge so you won't have to tune it much and I'm pretty sure it has 24 frets compared to the standard 22.

as for lessons, go for it. just make sure you don't get some dude who just wants to show off. the first step is to learn some songs by reading the tab. once you have a couple you can play, you need to look into the music theory so you can understand what scales you're playing, etc.

Also, I'm selling an early 90's model esp kh-2 kirk hammett signature if anyone's interested. its probably a lil bit out of your price range though, tayre.

[Kadumi]

also, learn to play 'over the hills and far away' by led zep before going into the acoustic part of guitar center so you can fit in with everyone else.

[Drew2]

Anything wrong with this as a starting one?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040425191615066069092088429820/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/515366/

[Artha]

One of your friends will get drunk and smash it over something. Possibly something living.

The guitar will not survive.

[Drew2]

And I will smash their face and collect money for another guitar.

Problem solved.

[Hanksbane]

Originally posted by Latrinsorm
Hey, is your top e-string like ridiculously out of tune with itself? Because mine's starting to piss me off.

Heh, actually it kinda is. That E string is the one I have to constatntly tune, I thought it was just because I keep switching back and forth from dropped D all the time.


Originally posted by Tayre
Anything wrong with this as a starting one?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040425191615066069092088429820/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/515366/

Should be alright, I'd go with an electric/acoustic if you could afford it. Ones with a cutaways are nice, prepares you for playing electrics...kinda.

From lookin at that site you may wanna try this:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040425203059024015248000448000/g=guitar/s=acous_elect/search/detail/base_pid/519446/

or

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040425203059024015248000448000/g=guitar/s=acous_elect/search/detail/base_pid/515325/

Like I said earlier, guitars are easy to pick up and play just about anywhere, especially acoustics. Starting off with a pretty decent one will set you for life, even if you end up just playing occasionaly.

[Satira]

Guitar players are hot.

:offtopic:

[Kadumi]

:smilegrin:

[Drew2]

<--- Now owns a guitar.

PS - I know like 5 whole chords already!!!!

[Edited on 4-28-2004 by Tayre]

[Kadumi]

Awesome. I suggest learning anything by Credence Clearwater Revival if you like them. Its mostly all just basic chords. My first real song was 'Who'll Stop the Rain.' The only chords in the whole song are G, C, Em, Bm, and D I think. Bm is a barre chord, it'll take more practice to get it to sound good. Get ta workin on those chord changes!

Check out harmony-central.com and click on tablature for all your guitar music needs. If for some reason you can't find it there then try tabrobot.com. Subscriptions to guitar one or guitar world aren't bad either.

[AnticorRifling]

Learn to play the guitar?

No way!

[Hanksbane]

Cool, what kind of guitar did you end up getting?

The first songs I learned to play were "Every Rose Has it's Thorns" and "Wanted Dead or Alive"

Go Go 80's!

[Blazing247]

Don't get a Squire. My friend and I started playing at the same time (7 years ago), and he opted for the Squire while I opted for a Strat (American of course). Six months in, he had to upgrade. I'm still playing my Strat. I've also got an Ovation. They certainly aren't the best acoustic guitars, but they are pretty damn good. The plastic back is hard to get used to, but then again I mostly play standing up. When I can afford a Taylor, that's what I'll get.

Good luck with the playing Tayre. I suggest getting yourself a simple chord book, and just memorize the chords. D, D, D, repeat ad nauseum. C, C, C...you get the picture. Then buy a Beatles chord book, as their songs are fun to play and pretty easy. That's how I learned way back when. If you have any questions let me know.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Kadumi
Awesome. I suggest learning anything by Credence Clearwater Revival if you like them. Its mostly all just basic chords. My first real song was 'Who'll Stop the Rain.' The only chords in the whole song are G, C, Em, Bm, and D I think. Bm is a barre chord, it'll take more practice to get it to sound good. Get ta workin on those chord changes!That song freaking rocks. What's awesome is with those chords you can play about 19 (million) other songs that rock just as hard.

[Drew2]

Well I made my friend who plays the guitar go with me so he could pick me out a cheap, playable guitar. I ended up getting a Yamaha FD01. I'm learning pretty quickly and I can actually play chords on my first try and move across them pretty smoothly. I just need to expand my collection of known chords before I attempt any songs or anything.

I hope to be able to play -something- recognizeable by next week. :thumbsup:

Oh, it's acoustic, btw.

[Edited on 4-28-2004 by Tayre]

[Drew2]

Bad Moon Rising will be my first song. I'll have it down by next week, I think.

I know A7, G, C, G7, and D. The CD that came with my guitar taught me them then gave me a list of songs that consist of those chords. CCR happened to be one, so I did it by Kadumi's suggestion.

I'm having problems going into a D chord. Once my fingers know how to do it without me telling them to, I think I can play this song no problem.

[Drew2]

HPEL.

Latrinsorm or Archevald IM me because Kadumi isn't around to be my guitar sensei. :(

THIS IS HARD.

[Anebriated]

Tayre in the future when NASA falls through and he needs a new job...

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Tayre
HPEL.

Latrinsorm or Archevald IM me because Kadumi isn't around to be my guitar sensei. :(

THIS IS HARD. I hope Archevald did.

If by HARD you mean "fingers bleeding" then stop playing, go to sleep, and start again tomorrow. If by HARD you mean "chords won't work" then stop playing, go to sleep, and start again tomorrow. I don't know if it'll work for you (what with your bizarro sleep powers) but I always get better at stuff after I sleep.