Question to our musicians

**Barkworm** · 04-17-2006, 11:26 AM

I always wanted to learn to play the guitar but since my fingers are all thumbs I never dared to.
Let's just imagine I MIGHT try to start, what is there to consider? Remember, I know horsesh*t about music.

*iris* · 04-17-2006, 01:16 PM

Guitar is acutually one of the easier stringed instruments to pick up if you don't know anything about music. You'll find that many songs you want to play are available with tablature notation, which is like having a map showing where your fingers should be on your guitar.

First of all, just mess around a bit. See if you can borrow a guitar, or rent one from ye local music shoppe. Most music shop people are nice about helping you tune it, or helping you learn to tune it. I hate tuning, but you gotta learn (I play violin, btw, not guitar).

What I'd do is just go for a few experimental lessons with a professional instructor (unless you someone who could do a good job of showing you). You can get books and videos and teach yourself, but I can't express how valuable it is to have someone physically take you through the basics, and adjust your fingers for you. And tell you that yeah, your fingers are supposed to hurt like that-- don't give up!

**GK Punk** · 04-18-2006, 07:41 AM

It's really not that hard to start. Get yourself a nice, but cheap (but not a piece of crap!) guitar. Then, I'd recomend reading abit about music theory just to help you later. practice a few basic chords, and learning PROPER finger techniques. Whatever you do, DO NOT tell yourself "Oh it's easier for me to finger the chord this way..." Because it's not in the long run! (Mostly because of chord changes)

As Iris said, have someone teach you the basics. It's really for the best, so you don't have to relearn the proper way to do things later (as I did).

You'll love it Barky. It's really satisfying to hear a song, and say to yourself "I want to learn to play that..." so you just pick up your guitar, and can teach yourself the song just by listening to it.

Ra · 04-18-2006, 07:50 AM

And the beauty of it is, if you are absolutly stuck, you can get a 'How to Do it Yourself' help book or something at your local music store on the guitar. I've been browsing around when I get a chance for a guitar, and almost all the time I come across help books. If you can't get positions right or anything AND you need a few songs to help you get started, buy a good conditioned second-hand help book on the subject; it should help

**Barkworm** · 04-19-2006, 02:24 AM

Thanks everyone! Another question (probably a pretty silly one), is a 3/4 guitar some kind of kids' guitar, i.e. is it too small for adults? I'm asking because I've been looking around for cheap guitars and the 3/4 ones are so much cheaper than the 4/4 ones.

**GK Punk** · 04-19-2006, 07:56 AM

I believe that's either yes, a children or girl's guitar (Which they make now, and some are pretty bad ass) or it refers to the scale of the neck. What kind of guitar are you wanting, accoustic or electric and what is your price range? I'm sure I can recomend something for you.

**Barkworm** · 04-19-2006, 09:54 AM

Well, if I bought one it should be a pretty cheap acoustic guitar. And if those 3/4 things are small, it's not really that much of a problem because my hands are freaking tiny.

**GK Punk** · 04-19-2006, 10:27 AM

Ibanez makes good, cheap accoustics. I actually only own one accoustic, and it's a cheap Ibanez, I love it. Great tone and it plays well. If your hands are small, you may want to go try out a few different necks to find one that feels right for you. My hands are kinda medium, not big, not small but I love bigger necks and frets on guitars like Les Pauls have compared to Fender guitars. They feel right, and are easier for me to play. But everyone is different.

For now, I am going to stand by my recomendation of the Ibanez guitars. Get one of their learning packs if you can, great value, decent guitar (Especially for the price.) if those are too expensive, Let me know and I'll check out a few others for you.

**Barkworm** · 04-19-2006, 12:38 PM

Thanks a lot!

I'm totally broke right now but as soon as I get some money I'm going to give it a try. Wow, I'm actually excited.

**GK Punk** · 04-19-2006, 01:18 PM

Glad I could help Barky! Feel free to ask me anything, I'll do my best to answer.
I can't even describe the feeling I get from playing music, and I think the more people that get to have that feeling, the better.

04-17-2006, 11:26 AM	#1
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,758	Question to our musicians I always wanted to learn to play the guitar but since my fingers are all thumbs I never dared to. Let's just imagine I MIGHT try to start, what is there to consider? Remember, I know horsesht about music. __________________ Make ***, not kill!

04-17-2006, 01:16 PM	#2
iris moddy mod mod Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: finally escaped the lab Posts: 1,886	Guitar is acutually one of the easier stringed instruments to pick up if you don't know anything about music. You'll find that many songs you want to play are available with tablature notation, which is like having a map showing where your fingers should be on your guitar. First of all, just mess around a bit. See if you can borrow a guitar, or rent one from ye local music shoppe. Most music shop people are nice about helping you tune it, or helping you learn to tune it. I hate tuning, but you gotta learn (I play violin, btw, not guitar). What I'd do is just go for a few experimental lessons with a professional instructor (unless you someone who could do a good job of showing you). You can get books and videos and teach yourself, but I can't express how valuable it is to have someone physically take you through the basics, and adjust your fingers for you. And tell you that yeah, your fingers are supposed to hurt like that-- don't give up! __________________ Appeal to nobler motives. Like pie. [ life is at best bitter sweet ]

04-18-2006, 07:50 AM	#4
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	And the beauty of it is, if you are absolutly stuck, you can get a 'How to Do it Yourself' help book or something at your local music store on the guitar. I've been browsing around when I get a chance for a guitar, and almost all the time I come across help books. If you can't get positions right or anything AND you need a few songs to help you get started, buy a good conditioned second-hand help book on the subject; it should help __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

04-19-2006, 02:24 AM	#5
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,758	Thanks everyone! Another question (probably a pretty silly one), is a 3/4 guitar some kind of kids' guitar, i.e. is it too small for adults? I'm asking because I've been looking around for cheap guitars and the 3/4 ones are so much cheaper than the 4/4 ones. __________________ Make ****, not kill!

04-19-2006, 09:54 AM	#7
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,758	Well, if I bought one it should be a pretty cheap acoustic guitar. And if those 3/4 things are small, it's not really that much of a problem because my hands are freaking tiny. __________________ Make ****, not kill!

04-18-2006, 07:41 AM	#3
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	It's really not that hard to start. Get yourself a nice, but cheap (but not a piece of crap!) guitar. Then, I'd recomend reading abit about music theory just to help you later. practice a few basic chords, and learning PROPER finger techniques. Whatever you do, DO NOT tell yourself "Oh it's easier for me to finger the chord this way..." Because it's not in the long run! (Mostly because of chord changes) As Iris said, have someone teach you the basics. It's really for the best, so you don't have to relearn the proper way to do things later (as I did). You'll love it Barky. It's really satisfying to hear a song, and say to yourself "I want to learn to play that..." so you just pick up your guitar, and can teach yourself the song just by listening to it.

04-19-2006, 07:56 AM	#6
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	I believe that's either yes, a children or girl's guitar (Which they make now, and some are pretty bad ass) or it refers to the scale of the neck. What kind of guitar are you wanting, accoustic or electric and what is your price range? I'm sure I can recomend something for you.

04-19-2006, 10:27 AM	#8
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Ibanez makes good, cheap accoustics. I actually only own one accoustic, and it's a cheap Ibanez, I love it. Great tone and it plays well. If your hands are small, you may want to go try out a few different necks to find one that feels right for you. My hands are kinda medium, not big, not small but I love bigger necks and frets on guitars like Les Pauls have compared to Fender guitars. They feel right, and are easier for me to play. But everyone is different. For now, I am going to stand by my recomendation of the Ibanez guitars. Get one of their learning packs if you can, great value, decent guitar (Especially for the price.) if those are too expensive, Let me know and I'll check out a few others for you.

04-19-2006, 12:38 PM	#9
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,758	Thanks a lot! I'm totally broke right now but as soon as I get some money I'm going to give it a try. Wow, I'm actually excited. __________________ Make ****, not kill!

04-19-2006, 01:18 PM	#10
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Glad I could help Barky! Feel free to ask me anything, I'll do my best to answer. I can't even describe the feeling I get from playing music, and I think the more people that get to have that feeling, the better.