The Surly Beginner Guitar Thread

[Continental Op 3,934]

Technique is very important but don't neglect theory if you want to write your own stuff.  Fretboard Logic, recommended upstream in this thread somewhere, or something else based on the CAGED structure is worth looking into. 

[AnotherUTFan 9,659]

I'm sure it's been mentioned somewhere here, but don't overlook the importance of a metronome or drum machine to practice timing. Everybody learning focuses on the left hand* because that's where the technical difficulty is, but the magic is in you're right hand. It took me years to realize that.

Play it like a percussion instrument. Seriously, you can get away with soooooo many chord hand mistakes if you're hitting the strings on the beat.

*assuming a right handed player.

[VABuckeye 2,472]

Checking in to say Im still plugging away every day.  Not a lot of time but time is spent on the guitar every day.  The stretching drills are helping as the span on my left hand is now longer than the span of my right hand.

[Whitewater Horn 965]

13 hours ago, AnotherUTFan said:

I'm sure it's been mentioned somewhere here, but don't overlook the importance of a metronome or drum machine to practice timing. Everybody learning focuses on the left hand* because that's where the technical difficulty is, but the magic is in you're right hand. It took me years to realize that.

Play it like a percussion instrument. Seriously, you can get away with soooooo many chord hand mistakes if you're hitting the strings on the beat.

*assuming a right handed player.

That is some of the best advice I was given when I decided to get serious about guitar in my mid 20s. My dad plays guitar and I played drums in bands growing up, so I was able to play cowboy chords and had learned some basic theory, CAGED, Nashville numbering, a few basic scales.  A friend and former bandmate who was, and still is, a great rhythm and lead player was helping me one day when I complimented him on how great of a player he was,  and he told me me this: “Learning to play guitar well is learning how to dance with your right hand, that’s where the magic happens. You already know the chords and scales. Spend most of your time practicing your strumming and picking patterns and you’ll see faster progression.” It was true. I realized that much of what was happening with my left hand (fret hand) was largely muscle memory and when I put more focus on what my right hand was doing, my playing became much more musical and didn’t sound stiff or forced. It’s a great way to get your playing smooth and fluent. So much great advice on this thread that I wish I had when I started. 

[Napoleon 8,596]

So this used book in “Very Good” condition just arrived today. 

 

I think it was about $20 including shipping. Chose not to go through Amazon, because they do enough damage to booksellers as it is. 

[Chad Fuck 17,503]

So 2.5 months into my unused 3 months subscription to Fender Play, Chad Jr. has found his guitar and wants to learn. We’ve been going through the lessons every evening as good bonding time.

It’s good enough and he’s engaged enough that I’ll probably start the pay version.

[VABuckeye 2,472]

I've been going through the Fender Play stuff.  It's very simple at the beginning but I understand that it is laying a foundation.

[Napoleon 8,596]

7 hours ago, Chad Fuck said:

So 2.5 months into my unused 3 months subscription to Fender Play, Chad Jr. has found his guitar and wants to learn. We’ve been going through the lessons every evening as good bonding time.

It’s good enough and he’s engaged enough that I’ll probably start the pay version.

I signed up, but still haven’t looked at it. 

I had planned to give Justin Guitar a solid effort, but his verbal diarrhea that wouldn’t stop have me skipping past that open tab on my browser several times per week. 

If there were a version where he just shut the fuck up and said-

“Practice this. If that is difficult, then start by trying this for a few days and then add this. Once you can do the whole thing 50 times in one minute, click on the next lesson.”

...but that would take 30 seconds and he needs to talk for 45 minutes and break it into 8 to 10 sections that you don’t know if you can skim through. 

[VABuckeye 2,472]

Try Fender Play.  Get through the really simple stuff.  I can see that it's beginning to help me.  My span is bigger.  I can fret faster.  Things are improving.

 

[BrickHorn 18,176]

On 6/5/2020 at 7:38 PM, AnotherUTFan said:

I'm sure it's been mentioned somewhere here, but don't overlook the importance of a metronome or drum machine to practice timing.

Timing is important, but playing along with an album or a backing track is a much funner way to practice timing. 

I agree with all the advice about focusing on your right hand, with the caveat that pick work is Guitar 201. When you’re very first learning, getting your fingers on the correct frets is the key. Get that down first and then, once you’re comfortable strumming chords, start thinking about your right hand. 

[Napoleon 8,596]

6 hours ago, BrickHorn said:

Timing is important, but playing along with an album or a backing track is a much funner way to practice timing. 

I agree with all the advice about focusing on your right hand, with the caveat that pick work is Guitar 201. When you’re very first learning, getting your fingers on the correct frets is the key. Get that down first and then, once you’re comfortable strumming chords, start thinking about your right hand. 

That's why this thing would be so awesome if they could just fulfill orders.

 

https://www.positivegrid.com/spark

[Napoleon 8,596]

On 5/19/2020 at 2:46 PM, Chad Fuck said:

I wish someone had told me this about 25 years ago.  

35+

[Chad Fuck 17,503]

35+

Why you gotta out me like this?

[Goredho 17,302]

On 6/10/2020 at 11:05 PM, Napoleon said:

That's why this thing would be so awesome if they could just fulfill orders.

 

https://www.positivegrid.com/spark

Lots of alternatives to Spark for this.  Fender Mustang amps allow you to connect via Bluetooth with your phone and play songs from Spotify, YouTube or iTunes through your guitar amp, though they don’t have loop or slow down features.

Since I’ve gone full digitard, my computer workstation is my hub.  Line 6 Helix is my audio interface in between guitar & computer and out from computer to speakers.  So if I want to learn a song on Spotify or practice with a backing track on YouTube, I just play it in the computer and the song is output through my studio monitors along with my guitar.

So many tools for learning guitar now compared to the 80s when I first picked one up.  The only limitations on becoming proficient are time and self-commitment.

[topochico 1,049]

8 minutes ago, Goredho said:

So many tools for learning guitar now compared to the 80s when I first picked one up.  The only limitations on becoming proficient are time and self-commitment.

I thought it was just buying more expensive gear. Now you tell me. 

Edited June 14, 2020 by topochico

[Napoleon 8,596]

16 hours ago, Goredho said:

Lots of alternatives to Spark for this.  Fender Mustang amps allow you to connect via Bluetooth with your phone and play songs from Spotify, YouTube or iTunes through your guitar amp, though they don’t have loop or slow down features.

Since I’ve gone full digitard, my computer workstation is my hub.  Line 6 Helix is my audio interface in between guitar & computer and out from computer to speakers.  So if I want to learn a song on Spotify or practice with a backing track on YouTube, I just play it in the computer and the song is output through my studio monitors along with my guitar.

So many tools for learning guitar now compared to the 80s when I first picked one up.  The only limitations on becoming proficient are time and self-commitment.

I have a Fender Mustang 1 v. 2 and I don’t like it because since Fender took down Muse (which happened before I bought the amp), it is not easy to fiddle with tones and get the same one you had last time. Perhaps I will get a Katana 50 or 100), but for the near term I got a Monoprice 5W rube amp that is arriving tomorrow. 

Also, my main computer has been in Storage in Pasadena, CA for about a year now. Have to rescue it before I can consider all that other shit. 

[Deej 76,511]

For those who took advantage of the three free months of Fender Play, my trial just ran out and they offered a year's subscription for $22.50. I went ahead and took it. I spend more than that a month on strings. 

[VABuckeye 2,472]

Been doing the Fender Play and it's been good so far.  Haven't spent any time on the guitar this weekend.  I need to fix that after the kids leave today.

[Deej 76,511]

I've mainly been using the bass lesson path. 

[Chad Fuck 17,503]

For those who took advantage of the three free months of Fender Play, my trial just ran out and they offered a year's subscription for $22.50. I went ahead and took it. I spend more than that a month on strings. 

Good to know. Mine ran out and I was considering renewing.

[Buzzrock 14,867]

I thought it was just buying more expensive gear. Now you tell me. 

That’s only if you want to get good faster.

[Buzzrock 14,867]

I thought it was just buying more expensive gear. Now you tell me. 

That’s only if you want to get good faster.

[CHIEF 5,057]

My Dad's family are all musicians, the easiest and quickest way for me to learn was to pull up a chair and grab a guitar at one of their jam sessions. Learn to play rhythm, and watch the leads. After about 20 years, I started taking finger picking lessons, reading sheet music, practiced finger style patterns, and that changed things forever. You are never too old to learn. 

CHIEF

[Celery Man 20,874]

Was trying to find this thread where we were talking about playing guitar.... I think this is it, this would be a lot for a beginner but this is what I came to post/bookmark

 

kept getting my face melted off listening to Reunions, finally had to go track it down and of course my homie Tim has my back

[Napoleon 8,596]

On 6/21/2020 at 11:18 AM, Deej said:

For those who took advantage of the three free months of Fender Play, my trial just ran out and they offered a year's subscription for $22.50. I went ahead and took it. I spend more than that a month on strings. 

I signed up and took 0 lessons over the 3 months. 

I just got a (Positive Grid) SPARK amp today, but will likely sign up for the Fender Play. Here’s the code for those who may be eligible. (You have until sometime in late October to sign up for this deal.)

renew

[Skipper 6,088]

I signed up but just didn't like it as much as Justin Guitar so haven't looked at it in a while. I'm sure by this point my trial is up or almost up.  I'm now right at 3 months in.  Haven't done as much "focused" practice the last month but still playing a bit 5/6 days per week.  Definitely a lot of improvement overall between months 2-3.  I seem to struggle by far the most getting to the C chord of the major chords but that is slowly improving.

[tbone_ 14,020]

Guitar tricks is pretty good too.

[Deej 76,511]

5 hours ago, Skipper said:

I signed up but just didn't like it as much as Justin Guitar so haven't looked at it in a while. I'm sure by this point my trial is up or almost up.  I'm now right at 3 months in.  Haven't done as much "focused" practice the last month but still playing a bit 5/6 days per week.  Definitely a lot of improvement overall between months 2-3.  I seem to struggle by far the most getting to the C chord of the major chords but that is slowly improving.

I was that way with Fender Play at first, but the deeper I get into it, the more I enjoy it. 

Edited August 13, 2020 by Deej

[Larry Sellers 8]

I’ve been using Fender play for about a month and just have a cheap acoustic guitar. I would like to learn electric as well. My brother in law is super into guitars and his recommendation was to get a fender Strat player ($699) series that was made in Mexico. I’ve seen different opinions about buying the best guitar you can afford vs buying a cheap Squier Strat. However I’ve also seen some cheap Squier Strat affinity series for $180. If I buy a fender Strat and don’t end up doing much with it, does it hold its value well? Or should I just get the Squier and see where that takes me? I do have a few kids who might get Into guitar. So if the Fender Strat will last, I don’t mind paying for quality.

[Deej 76,511]

That MIM Strat, if you end up not playing is going to depreciate about $250 the minute you walk out the store with it. 

Go play both. Whatever feels good to you and you're comfortable with in both playability and price, go with that. 

[DougO 5,239]

I ran into a guy with a Squier Mustang, starting out as a pure beginner, and he really wanted opinions as to whether he should keep it or trade for a Strat or Tele. He handed it to me and it played like butter. Super smooth, easy action.

I have a Squier Bullet Tele and it is a lot of fun to play, got it for $125 new. Perfect for a beginner, or somebody that just wants a beautiful Tele without spending much.

For beginners I would advise a Squier if buying new, or find a great deal on a used import Fender if you really want a legit Fender.

The Player series which replaced the Mexico Standard series jacked up the price on  new Mexico guitars a bit without really adding much if anything, in value. In fact, they started replacing their rosewood fretboards with Pau Ferro, which i personally find unappealing. I used to find Mexico Standard Strats in great shape for $250ish fairly often, but not so much these days in Covid era where the market seems bought up.

Edited August 15, 2020 by DougO

[Celery Man 20,874]

G&L Tribute is also a good buy in that middle beginner range - pretty good strats and teles for $400. Since this is a newbie thread - the "L" in G&L is for Leo Fender, it's a company he started after leaving Fender.

At that price range, I would definitely lean towards what feels good (so, really nice solid feeling cheap guitar, feels better than the Made in Mexico [MIM] Fender? get that one). If the Fender logo is appealing or you do want a higher success rate (I would say that generally but not always the build quality improves as you move up the Fender line as well as the components) and you want to save a couple hundred bucks, go fishing for a used MIM Fender in stores or on Reverb. Won't be difficult to find. I do think that for a first electric guitar, if you're feeling confident and want to jump right in buying a really nice guitar is fine, but on the other hand it is also not unwise to get a mid range or cheap guitar and save the big bucks for when you're more into guitar player and know better what you want.

[troph 24,548]

Just stopping in to say this one is on deck.  Started sailing lessons and I’m well into it. Scuba is later this spring and then I think end of this year and next year I’m taking guitar up. Can’t imagine a better scene than in some anchorage near an island and strumming some guy Clark or Jimmy Buffett myself. I tried it once in college and I got ok with it, but it was all a bunch of Jesus music, NTTAWWT. Time to pick it back up and make it stick. I’ll be looking for a basic 6 string acoustic nothing crazy. 

Edited April 19, 2021 by troph

[troph 24,548]

Ok what’s a mid level decent guitar for beginners? Six string acoustic, would like to stay under $500 unless that’s ditch weed prices, then I’ll go up.  I think I’m going to start this summer. Listening to the Indigo Girls strum and sing Bob Dylan Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright and seeing the chords - ones I learned long ago and fuck it I’m ready.  
 

Recs on best apps to jump start too. I downloaded ultimate guitar it looks decent. 
 

I’m going to get a few songs under my belt and then go from there. 

[Deej 76,511]

Decent guitar for under 500? Yamaha. 

[troph 24,548]

9 minutes ago, Deej said:

Decent guitar for under 500? Yamaha. 

Decent list ??https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/best-acoustic-guitars-under-500-dollar

My girlfriend just said she has some Gibson acoustics she was given by the company for some ad work years ago. They are untouched really. Not sure what style, make, etc. I assume likely good? 

Edited May 27, 2021 by troph

[Foggy Notion 1,202]

21 minutes ago, troph said:

Decent list ??https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/best-acoustic-guitars-under-500-dollar

My girlfriend just said she has some Gibson acoustics she was given by the company for some ad work years ago. They are untouched really. Not sure what style, make, etc. I assume likely good? 

Some Gibson acoustics? As in, more than one? Post some pics and we’ll let you know what you got, approximate value etc.  But yes, Gibsons generally are fine guitars. 

[Deej 76,511]

2 minutes ago, Foggy Notion said:

Some Gibson acoustics? As in, more than one? Post some pics and we’ll let you know what you got, approximate value etc.  But yes, Gibsons generally are fine guitars. 

Give Foggy your budget and ask him to work his magic.

[Celery Man 20,874]

41 minutes ago, troph said:

Decent list ??https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/best-acoustic-guitars-under-500-dollar

My girlfriend just said she has some Gibson acoustics she was given by the company for some ad work years ago. They are untouched really. Not sure what style, make, etc. I assume likely good? 

Pics of ur girlfriends gibson pls 

Decent chance it’s an epiphone which could still be ok but I don’t think Gibson makes any cheap acoustics with Gibson on the headstock.

[OU Sucks 8,744]

2 hours ago, troph said:

Ok what’s a mid level decent guitar for beginners? Six string acoustic, would like to stay under $500 unless that’s ditch weed prices, then I’ll go up.  I think I’m going to start this summer. Listening to the Indigo Girls strum and sing Bob Dylan Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright and seeing the chords - ones I learned long ago and fuck it I’m ready.  
 

Recs on best apps to jump start too. I downloaded ultimate guitar it looks decent. 
 

I’m going to get a few songs under my belt and then go from there. 

I bought one of these for $450 (any store that haggles should be able to do that price):

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FGX830CBL--yamaha-fgx830c-dreadnought-cutaway-black

Swapped the nut and bridge pins with TUSQ and it sounds amazing.

[troph 24,548]

32 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

Pics of ur girlfriends gibson pls 

Decent chance it’s an epiphone which could still be ok but I don’t think Gibson makes any cheap acoustics with Gibson on the headstock.

Well they did a lot of ad work, mad men kinda stuff back in the early 2000’s so could they be nice guitars instead of cheap ones? I’ll have to get some pics maybe put on the porn thread? 

[troph 24,548]

1 hour ago, Foggy Notion said:

Some Gibson acoustics? As in, more than one? Post some pics and we’ll let you know what you got, approximate value etc.  But yes, Gibsons generally are fine guitars. 

Yeah more than one I think four they are autographed too one is Los Lobos. I don’t think the other autographs are no more famous probably a little less.  I’m learning more about them by the minute. We are headed out of town for about a week I’ll have to get a hold of them for y’all to give me the deets. 

Edited May 27, 2021 by troph

[BrickHorn 18,176]

3 hours ago, troph said:

Ok what’s a mid level decent guitar for beginners? Six string acoustic, would like to stay under $500 unless that’s ditch weed prices, then I’ll go up.  I think I’m going to start this summer. Listening to the Indigo Girls strum and sing Bob Dylan Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright and seeing the chords - ones I learned long ago and fuck it I’m ready.  
 

Recs on best apps to jump start too. I downloaded ultimate guitar it looks decent. 
 

I’m going to get a few songs under my belt and then go from there. 

Get yourself a Seagull S6. Go test drive a few and pick the one that speaks to you. 

[hullabelew 3,698]

11 hours ago, troph said:

Decent list ??https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/best-acoustic-guitars-under-500-dollar

My girlfriend just said she has some Gibson acoustics she was given by the company for some ad work years ago. They are untouched really. Not sure what style, make, etc. I assume likely good? 

Agree with Yamaha and Seagull recs.  Also, you can get a Taylor Academy 10 for a little over $500.  As mentioned, go test drive some to see what feels comfortable to you.  I wouldn't go by that list.   That Epiphone 200 would be a beast for a beginner to learn on.  Also, the quality of those varies WILDLY from my experience.  You could end up with a great guitar or one that thinks it's still a tree.  The Yamaha in that list would probably be a good bet.  The Taylor is smaller (about 3/4 size) guitar.  I think the Seagull is a LOT better guitar than that mini Taylor.  I LOVE all of my Fender electrics but I've never really liked Fender acoustics.  

[troph 24,548]

9 hours ago, BrickHorn said:

Get yourself a Seagull S6. Go test drive a few and pick the one that speaks to you. 

 

 

[troph 24,548]

Whoever said epiphone was right. One though is different, can’t tell what that is, squire? 
 

 

[troph 24,548]

Holy shit! 
 

To Live is to Fly is just F, C, G - that’s it. Maybe a slightly tricky strum pattern.   but still.  shit, wagon wheel, baton rouge, all the right reasons, man there are tons of songs out there with simple chords.  but fml the lesbian national anthem looks hard as shit.  grrrr....

Edited May 28, 2021 by troph

[topochico 1,049]

57 minutes ago, troph said:

Holy shit! 
 

To Live is to Fly is just F, C, G - that’s it. Maybe a slightly tricky strum pattern.   but still.  shit, wagon wheel, baton rouge, all the right reasons, man there are tons of songs out there with simple chords.  but fml the lesbian national anthem looks hard as shit.  grrrr....

About that F chord...... let's just say it is the first big hurdle for beginners. Are you ever in DFW Troph? I have a Seagull S6 I can part with. PM me

[troph 24,548]

11 minutes ago, topochico said:

About that F chord...... let's just say it is the first big hurdle for beginners. Are you ever in DFW Troph? I have a Seagull S6 I can part with. PM me

I can be in DFW.  I had F down 20 years ago along with about a dozen other chords. Strumming was the thing that I sucked at back then. 

[hullabelew 3,698]

On 6/5/2020 at 8:38 PM, AnotherUTFan said:

I'm sure it's been mentioned somewhere here, but don't overlook the importance of a metronome or drum machine to practice timing. Everybody learning focuses on the left hand* because that's where the technical difficulty is, but the magic is in you're right hand. It took me years to realize that.

Play it like a percussion instrument. Seriously, you can get away with soooooo many chord hand mistakes if you're hitting the strings on the beat.

*assuming a right handed player.

This is some GREAT advice.  You can screw up with your left hand or just deaden the strings but if you are on time with the strumming, you can cover a MULTITUDE of sins.  I still practice with a metronome because I have a tendency to rush when I'm playing solos.