[JaiVee]

Hey everyone. I searched the forum figuring there would be a FAQ section for beginners and I did see some things, but I still have some important questions. If I missed a section that would be helpful to me, please let me know.

I have a few questions. First off I need a nice guitar. Obviously, being the first one, I don't want to spend a lot. I've seen beginner packages on the internet for as low as $70 and as high as $250 (those are new). I've also seen a lot of people on this forum say to try to buy a used one. That is probably the best way to go, but I've had bad experiences buying second hand items before, so I'd like to get something new.

So basically I'd like to hear your opinions on good beginner models (perfect sound isn't a necessity because as a beginner I doubt I'll know the difference). I would like to get a package deal since i need everything (bag, picks, tuner, etc.) so any advice on low end models would be real helpful.

Also, I've seen some guitars being sold with teaching books and DVDs. Are these helpful? Even if it just showed the basics (tuning especially) it would be great, but are there some that are better than others?

And lastly, what about lessons? I've seen a lot of lessons posted online that look pretty good, but can you learn how to play the guitar without actually having someone show you the basics in person? Anybody hear teach themselves? Is it possible? Basically I'm just looking for advice from seasoned guitarists or even people who may have recently been in my shoes and are now learning and have gotten past the beginner stage.

Any help would be great. Thanks for reading and sorry I went a little long.

JV

[gcd23]

Welcome to the forums man. I am pretty new to the scene also, been playing for about 5 months or so. As far as your first guitar there are a couple brands that I can suggest to you (takamine, seagull, alvarez, yamaha, dean, and ibanez). There are a couple more but I can't think of them. I would suggest to go to your local guitar center and play all of the guitars in the price range and get one you feel comfortable playing and that has a good sound to you. As far as getting a packaged deal I would say not to because you can get a pick, strap, and any little things for cheaper than you would if you get a packaged deal. You also can get a better guitar if you don't (Thats my opinion). My first acoustic guitar was a takamine G-230 which I paid around $200 for and I loved it but quickly wanted to get something that I could grow with and keep for a long time so I got my Taylor. I would suggest if you are serious about sticking with playing guitar to get a more expensive model if you can afford it so you wouldn't have to go with the trouble of getting another guitar months later. There are definitely good instructional videos out there just search online for reviews and choose then. I would highly suggest getting lessons if you can afford them; you will progress quicker if you take lessons because you don't learn the bad habits a self-taught guitarist makes. I am self-taught and it has taken me longer than most people to pick up on things but I am progressing thus far and have noticed that I am getting better. I would have told you differently about a month ago or so when I wanted to quit because I didn't think I was getting any better. Don't get discouraged, there are times when you are gonna mess up alot and want to quit but just keep going and you will get better. Another thing is stick with a practice plan, know what songs you want to learn and stick with those untill you can play them. Don't try to play 30 songs at once like I do and expect to get better fast. Sorry if this is boring but I guess I rambled more than I expected. Good luck and tell me how things go. Peace.

[dogpoo]

Q1. I'd say go for an individual guitar, try them out, make sure it can be tuned properly and try to go for a guitar thats not made out of plywood. Many of the guitar brands gcd23 mentioned are pretty good though I wouldn't go for a yamaha myself, the action tends to be rather high, and that makes it discouraging for a beginner. You don't need a tuner, i just recently got one myself, after two years just get someone to show you how to tune your guitar to itself.

Q2. Teaching books and DVDs might be helpful, though it might be a little hard to get started. I wouldn't know what to recommend not having used them myself. I'd try getting a teacher first, or at least someone to show you the basics.

Q3. Lessons are good. However, if you want to learn the guitar by yourself [ie self-taught] it is entirely possible. You might have some problems at times though, and you might wreck your technique but its possible, many people have done it, including those here. Basically, and I would like to stress this point, get someone to just halp you past the basics, at least to correct the way you bend your wrist and such because such things, when learnt wrong at the beginning, can hamper your progress in the coming years.

I hope you have fun with the guitar, remember, its not about being the fastest in the world, its about having fun, and if you get really good at it, thats a bonus. That being said, don't go out and be one of those asses who think they're the greatest. Work at a thing until you get it, practice as much as you can, but take rests and if you feel you just aren't getting the hang of something, move on and come back to it later, you might just be surprised at how much easier it seems.

Good luck and welcome to GTU

[evileye]

And lastly, what about lessons? I've seen a lot of lessons posted online that look pretty good, but can you learn how to play the guitar without actually having someone show you the basics in person? Anybody hear teach themselves? Is it possible? Basically I'm just looking for advice from seasoned guitarists or even people who may have recently been in my shoes and are now learning and have gotten past the beginner stage.

Any help would be great. Thanks for reading and sorry I went a little long.

JV

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]
It's all been covered by the above, but self taught is quite very possible. I was taught basic chords by an instructor, which didn't do me much good so I figured the rest out by myself. I've picked up bad habbits I'm sure, some more obvious than others, but I haven't got the facility of a good teacher where I live, so I had no real choice. Self taught is pretty easy, the internet is probably the best resource for this.

[acousticblues]

i agree with dogpoo about yamaha guitars, but they are pretty good quality guitars for a beginner. for someone who is just starting it is perfecy. where i live, it comes in a package that starts at about 90 dollars american. its a great deal, being only about 90 dollars. it includes a pitch pipe thing to help with the tuning, a strap, extra strings, picks, a string winder, a book, and of course the guitar. its mahagony wood, chrome tuners, and i think a rosewood fretboard. you cant really find a deal like that many other places. I got my gibson epiphone for 250 dollars and it just came just with this video that didnt teach me anything and a cheap electronic tuner. My guitar is a much higher quality than a yamaha, but the yamaha package is a great beginners guitar and is inexpensive. try checking that guitar out if you can, but of course look around first and play all the guitars you can before you make a final decision. tell us what you end up choosing, thanks.
Paul

[JaiVee]

Thanks a lot for your replies so far. Next week I am going to hit some of the guitar shops and see if they have any of the models I've seen on the web. I saw what I thought was a pretty good deal for an Ibanez acoustic for under $150, so I might be leaning that way.

Right now my plan is to get a few lessons just to learn the bare bones basics. The stuff you said about getting into bad habits was a really good point. I'm sure you can play "Mary had a little Lamb" with bad habits, but I'm guessing those bad habits could stop you from progressing.

I've got a ton of other questions and I'm sure I'll have more once I get the guitar, so you'll be hearing from me. Thanks again for your help and I'll let you all know what I end up getting.

JV

[JaiVee]

Oh yeah, I also wanted to ask if there is any advantage to learning on an acoustic. The people I know who play all initially learned on an acoustic and it seems to me that it would be the best way to start, but I don't really know why I think that.

Is there any advantage to learning on an acoustic? Any disadvantage? Any reason electric would be better? I'm just curious as to why most people start on acoustic even though the music they listen to is usually played with electric.

JV

[Irishcocacola]

I've got a little useful stuff on my site for starting in the guitar section.

[suburbanlegendschic]

my first(and last, but its really great, supposedly) acoustic guitar was/is and ibanez and it was 100 something dollars and i would start off with that cause its a really nice guitar.

second LESSONS ARE YOUR FRIEND. i wouldn't have been a third of the way where i am now if i had taught myself. I have a really great guitar teacher. So, i suggest taking lessons.

[dogpoo]

well, i suppose learning on an acoustic toughens you up more than if you'd started out on an electric.

i myself started out on a classical so thats nylons strings, which are softer, but the neck is bigger, which really can go either way. pain for a person with small fingers/hands, great for a person with big fingers.

acoustics have metal strings, which are thinner than nylons, and so it's more painful to start with. however, they do build up your calluses much faster than if you'd been banging around on nylons.

electrics generally have lower action, and are easier to play than an acoustic. but if you'd started off with an acoustic, when you switch to an electric you'd find it much easier than if you'd learnt on an electric and then switched to an acoustic.

[suburbanlegendschic]

pain for a person with small fingers/hands, great for a person with big fingers.
acoustics have metal strings, which are thinner than nylons, and so it's more painful to start with. however, they do build up your calluses much faster than if you'd been banging around on nylons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah what she said. if you start off with an acoustic your much better off. like power chords(depending on the fret board spacing) is WAY easyier swiching from acoustic to electric...and if you have small hands like I.
and if your just starting out i would suggest getting thinner strings (.11 or .13) so that you won't hurt your finger tips, because mine hurt a lot until the calluses formed.

[Neddie11]

Hey if you are going to do some online learning I have a couple of good sites for ya. To figure out the basic chords and how they should sound and where to put your fingers go here

www.chordfind.com

and for lessons (like tuning, scales and theory stuff) go here

www.cyberfret.com

I've never taken lessons myself but with a lot of practice and a bit of frustration you'll be able to do it without them. I find the best for me is to play with other people. If you can take lessons take them tho. I'm sure they'll help you start

[JaiVee]

Hey all.

I've looked in a few local shops and I'm leaning towards the Fender DG8. I've seen some people say some bad stuff about Fenders, but when compared to the similarly priced Ibanez I didn't really notice any difference in sound or quality. It would be a package with a bag and strings and a few other things for $200.

If anyone really objects to this decision and has a good reason, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Otherwise I'm going to probably buy it on Saturday.

Later,
John

[gcd23]

Man, I wish you luck with that guitar. The fenders I have played just don't do it for me, I just don't like the way it feels or plays. If thats what you like and you feel comfortable with it then go for it. You are ultimately the one who is going to be playing it but expect to get a way better guitar in the next coming months. You will definitely hear the difference when you get better, trust me. I still say go Takamine but you know what you like so good luck. Tell us what you end up doing.

[JaiVee]

Well, I picked up the DG8 yesterday and played it some last night. I really do like the guitar. I know some people bash the Fenders but it seems like it is pretty good to me (but what do I know I've been playing for less than 24 hours). All I did last night was try to play power chords and I have the intro to "Come as You Are" down pretty good.

My main problem so far is that I have big fingers and When I'm fretting one string I tend to still be touching the string next to it. Then when I strum I get some buzzing or unintenional muting. But I am getting a little better. Oh and my fingers hurt like hell.

I'm going to go play a little now and see how much I forgot since last night. If anyone knows any good beginner exercises please let me know.

JV

[dogpoo]

scales finger strenghtening exercises [chromatic scales usually], stuff like that.

oh and getting to know the names of the notes of frets.